1987 My Era

Chapter 553, Wheat Ear Falls in Love, Gets Rich Quick, The King is Not to be Trifled With (Please Subscribe!)
The kiss wasn't passionate, but it was warm and lingering.

They held each other tightly, entwined on and off for more than ten minutes, until they were almost suffocating before finally separating.

Feeling the almost dripping allure in her eyes, Li Heng pressed his forehead against hers and teased ambiguously, "You've fallen for me?"

For the first time ever, Mai Sui didn't deny it. Her face flushed, and she made a soft "hmm" sound, like a mosquito buzzing.

Li Heng was overjoyed and felt a surge of accomplishment. He leaned in and kissed her on the corner of her mouth, saying, "Sleep with me tonight."

Hearing this, and sensing his underlying meaning, Mai Sui's body instinctively reacted strangely, but she verbally refused: "No!"

Li Heng whispered seductively in her earlobe, "It's winter now, the seeds won't survive, I won't go to the fields."

The wheat stalk still said, "No!"

Li Heng, undeterred, continued, "I'll just use a hoe to remove the weeds, not dig the soil."

Mai Sui smiled sweetly, her body burning with embarrassment. She hurriedly covered his sweet-talking mouth with her hand, trying to stop him from continuing like this.

Seeing that she was sticking to her bottom line, Li Heng sighed inwardly, stopped testing her, tightened his grip on her, and said, "I'll sing you a song."

Wheat Ear happily said, "Okay."

She doesn't ask what song it is; she just listens when he sings it.

Due to the limitations of the era, Li Heng didn't sing anything fancy or frivolous, but instead sang a very classic song called "Tian Mi Mi".

He cleared his throat and began to sing softly:
Sweet, sweet smile
It seems that the flowers are blooming in the spring breeze
Open in the spring breeze
Where, where have I seen you?
Your smile is so familiar
...

...

Li Heng inherited Li Jianguo's talent; he can play various musical instruments and sing, and he is particularly good at singing.

Sure enough, as soon as he opened his mouth, Mai Sui looked at him with bright eyes, her eyes filled with deep affection, just like the lyrics of a song.

After the last line was sung, Li Heng said to her, "I dedicate this song to you, hoping that my wheat ears will always be as sweet as the song."

Mai Sui's heart melted; she moved her head slightly and buried it in his neck, remaining silent for a long time.

If he hadn't felt his neck getting wet later, he wouldn't have known she had silently shed tears.

Li Heng tenderly wiped away her tears with his fingers and teased her, "Your handsome and talented man is right in front of you, and he's holding you. Be content, don't cry."

Mai Sui stopped crying and smiled, saying happily, "I am content."

Li Heng asked worriedly, "Then why are you crying?"

Wheat Ear said playfully, "I don't want to tell you."

“I thought it was because I was touched,” he said.

“Yes, half and half,” she said softly.

"Oh dear, only halfway done, sigh...!" Li Heng sighed.

“Sigh…!” Mai Sui sighed, mimicking his tone.

After sighing, the two looked at each other and then burst out laughing at the same time.

As the night deepened, the north wind picked up, and Li Heng pulled the blankets up a bit for her. "Are you cold?"

Wheat nestled against him: "I'm not cold in your arms."

"Then, how about we wait for three lifetimes?"

"it is good."

After the word "okay" was uttered, the two fell silent, and then their heads silently drew closer, and they couldn't help but kiss each other again.

This time, the movements and gestures were significantly larger and more intense than before; even the biting north wind couldn't melt away their passion.

As he grew increasingly aroused, Li Heng was no longer satisfied with just his lips. Instead, he moved down along the back of her ear until he finally bit her jade-like collarbone before stopping.

In just a short while, Mai Sui had completely transformed, her eyes sparkling, her allure overflowing, and her body ripe for the test.

"Wheat Ear, are you really not going to sleep with me tonight?" Li Heng kissed her eyes and asked passionately.

The wheat stalk remained silent for a long time before struggling to shake its head.

Her refusal was unexpected yet reasonable. Li Heng immediately stopped pressuring her, held her in his arms, and looked up calmly at the starry sky.

Mai Sui stared at his face, somewhat mesmerized.

After a long, long time, she asked hesitantly, "Are you blaming me?"

“No, because you are my ear of wheat,” Li Heng said earnestly.

Mai Sui felt relieved, but she still felt uneasy. After a while, she said, "I called home yesterday, and my mother told me that she had my grandfather's fortune told, and he won't live to be 72."

Li Heng asked, "What year was your grandfather born?"

Mai Sui said, "Next year he will be 72, his birthday is the 14th day of the seventh lunar month."

That means there are only six months left. He comforted me, saying, "Nine out of ten fortune tellers are lying. Few of them have real skills. It's all just a money-making gimmick. Don't take it seriously."

"Mmm," Mai Sui obediently hummed in response.

Once they started talking, the two chatted on and on until the early hours of the morning before finally going back to their room to sleep.

Fearing they would get into further trouble, the two went back to their respective rooms.

As soon as the two entered the house, Ms. Yu from the building across the street at number 25 also got up and came in, but she didn't turn on the light.

About 15 minutes later, Zhou Shihe from the neighboring building number 27 also stood up from the attic and went inside, also without turning on the lights.

However, Yu Shuheng did it intentionally.

Zhou Shihe's actions were unintentional at first.

.....
The next day.

When Li Heng woke up, he saw ears of wheat.

Before he could even speak, Mai Sui, sitting by the bedside, said, "Editor-in-Chief Liao is here, along with a director."

director?

Li Heng quickly got dressed and got out of bed. After a quick wash, he met the director Mai Sui had mentioned, Zhang Yimou.

As soon as he came downstairs, Zhang Yimou stood up and greeted him with a smile: "Good morning, Teacher Li."

One shouldn't hit a smiling face, so Li Heng smiled and politely returned the greeting: "Good morning, Director Zhang."

Zhang Yimou asked with slight surprise, "You know me?"

"No need for formalities, just call me by my name."

Li Heng said politely for a moment, and then said, "Three days ago in Beijing, I watched Director Zhang's latest masterpiece, 'Red Sorghum,' with my friend. It was so well made that my friend even shed tears."

I thought to myself, "This movie is going to win a major award!"

People like to hear nice things and be praised, especially when it's someone like Li Heng who has a relatively high social status. That kind of praise carries even more weight.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yimou immediately beamed with joy, and his impression of Li Heng skyrocketed.

After exchanging pleasantries, both sides directly stated their purpose.

Director Zhang said, "Teacher Li, I especially like your works. When I first saw 'To Live,' I was deeply moved. I watched it in one go and then watched it twice more."

I'm here today with the sincere intention of purchasing the film rights to "To Live." It's such a wonderful work, and I'd like to try and adapt it into a film.

Unlike his indifferent attitude towards Dai Yue on the plane, Li Heng was approachable this time, glancing at Editor-in-Chief Liao and nodding.

Next came the pricing process. Initially, Zhang Yimou wanted to tentatively quote 5, but upon seeing Li Heng, he stopped haggling and directly quoted his target price of 10.

10 is the limit of his ability to afford it. Any more and he'll have to tighten his belt, because the total budget for the movie is only 300 million, which is very tight.

After giving the quote, Zhang Yimou looked at Li Heng with some uncertainty, his palms sweating even in the dead of winter.

Because he knew that the man before him was no ordinary scholar; he was a musician, a wealthy man, and someone who didn't lack money. Before coming, he and his team had bought many newspapers to study Li Heng in order to learn more about this bigwig.

Based on news reports, the team made a rough estimate of Li Heng's net worth, and the result shocked them!

Over 100 million!

His net worth might already be over 100 million!
This was in 88, an era when many people were still striving to become "ten-thousand-yuan households," but this person had already amassed a fortune of over one hundred million yuan at such a young age. How could that not be terrifying?
In terms of fame, talent, social status and reputation, and wealth, this person in front of him completely surpasses him. Therefore, upon meeting, Zhang Yimou adopted a very humble attitude in order to make a good impression.

Just as Editor-in-Chief Liao was wondering whether he should say something to ease the tension, Li Heng spoke up, "Money is not a problem, I only have one request."

Seeing a glimmer of hope, Zhang Yimou quickly said, "Please go on, Mr. Li."

Li Heng smiled and said, "Film it well, don't disgrace it, and bring the same spirit you had when making 'Red Sorghum.' I really enjoy watching your movies."

Zhang Yimou was overjoyed to hear this and immediately boasted, "Hey, Mr. Li, please rest assured, I will definitely strive for excellence and live up to your expectations."

Zhang Yimou was surprised that Li Heng would agree so readily. He didn't even need to use any of the prepared remarks he had made beforehand, and the deal was reached. He was very excited.

Next, Zhang Yimou took 10 yuan from his assistant, neatly stacked it on the coffee table, and handed it to Li Heng.

Li Heng glanced at the money casually. Wow, they were all brand new bills, and judging from their appearance, they must have just been withdrawn from the bank.

After the matter was settled, Zhang Yimou warmly invited Li Heng, Mai Sui, and others to dinner.

However, Mai Sui politely declined, saying she had to go to class.

Zhang Yimou is a shrewd person. He could tell from his words and actions that Mai Sui was Li Heng's confidante. He didn't dare to disturb her too much and left Building No. 26 with great insight.

Zhang Yimou was stunned as soon as he left Building No. 26. Standing in the alley, he looked at Zhou Shihe, who had just come from Building No. 27, and was amazed by her beauty, his eyes shining with brilliance.

Li Heng coughed lightly, and Zhang Yimou awkwardly snapped out of his daze.

After leaving Lushan Village, the group went to the Blue Sky Hotel.

After a few rounds of drinks, Zhang Yimou asked Li Heng, "Was that person from Fudan University also a student? Was she the Ms. Zhou who played the piano at the Spring Festival Gala?"

Li Heng nodded: "It's her."

Zhang Yimou was filled with emotion: "To be honest, Mr. Li, I've been in the entertainment industry for many years and have seen countless beauties, but after seeing this woman today, I finally understand what a true beauty is. I was really too naive before."

Li Heng and Editor-in-Chief Liao exchanged glances, not laughing at each other, but rather agreeing with what was said.

Zhang Yimou leaned forward slightly: "I've heard that this person not only plays the piano exceptionally well, but also has incredibly powerful family connections?"

Li Heng was surprised, "Director Zhang inquired about her situation?"

Zhang Yimou was very frank: "Back then, there was a casting call for a movie. One of my casting assistant directors was really interested in her, but after learning about Ms. Zhou's family background through CCTV, he was so scared that he immediately backed out and never mentioned casting her in a movie again."

Li Heng asked with a smile, "Director Zhang must have been thinking about getting her to star in another movie just now."

Zhang Yimou shook his head: "That thought crossed my mind for a moment, but I gave up on it shortly after. In our line of work, it's very important to know your own limitations. Families like that would never let their daughters venture into our circle."

Editor-in-Chief Liao chimed in, "That's true, especially since she's the only daughter of the Zhou family this generation, so they value her highly."

It is said that Zhang Yimou, who had already given up hope, became even more disheartened.

However, Lao Zhang later mentioned Wei Xiaozhu from Fudan University, saying that he had invited her three times, but she had refused each time, and he was now filled with regret.

Li Heng asked curiously, "Did you go to see Wei Xiaozhu again this time?"

Zhang Yimou chuckled awkwardly, "We were kicked out. The girl's elders were very angry and told us not to bother her again."

Editor-in-Chief Liao suddenly said, "That's right, it's best not to bother them."

Zhang Yimou was stunned for a moment, and Editor-in-Chief Liao gave Li Heng a subtle wink.

Zhang Yimou suddenly realized what was happening and was overjoyed. From then on, he never mentioned Wei Xiaozhu again at the dinner table.

After the meal, Zhang Yimou was very hospitable and insisted on taking a group photo with Li Heng and Editor-in-Chief Liao.

Naturally, Li Heng stood in the center, Editor-in-Chief Liao stood on the right, and Lao Zhang stood on the left.

After the photo shoot, Zhang Yimou said to his assistant with a smug look on his face, "This Mr. Li is a man of character. We should keep in touch more often. When you get back, please develop the photos and hang them in the most prominent place in my office."

The assistant could tell that Director Zhang valued the famous writer highly, and even seemed to be deliberately trying to curry favor with him during their conversation.

Once everyone left, only Li Heng and Editor-in-Chief Liao remained.

Li Heng asked, "Does Senior Brother know Director Zhang?"

Editor-in-Chief Liao replied, "We met a few times in Beijing and had dinner together. One of his friends is my college classmate."

So that's how it is. No wonder the other party came to Shanghai and first sought out my senior to mediate; there's a connection between them.

Li Heng asked, "What did it mean when you winked at me when Wei Xiaozhu was mentioned?"

Editor-in-Chief Liao grinned and said, "You saw it?"

Li Heng rolled his eyes: "Do you think I'm blind?"

Editor-in-Chief Liao chuckled and said, "This Director Zhang is rather wary of you, and Wei Xiaozhu is your good friend. By mentioning your name, he won't bother your classmate Wei anymore."

Li Heng pondered for a moment, "They probably did a lot of research on me before they came."

Editor-in-Chief Liao said, "Actually, there's no need for much investigation. On the day your identity as a writer was exposed, so many reporters were greeted and dealt with by Teacher Yu the whole time."

And who is Teacher Yu? Those well-informed reporters knew perfectly well, and naturally, the news spread far and wide.

At this point, Editor-in-Chief Liao patted him on the shoulder with envy: "Aside from our teacher, with Professor Yu's connection, you'll have virtually no obstacles in China from now on. The value of this is immeasurable, so you must seize the opportunity."

Li Heng understood the implication: "You also want me to marry Teacher Yu?"

Editor-in-Chief Liao nodded and then shook his head: "We're family, and I, Xiaolin, and I will fully support whoever you marry. But then again, if you really marry Teacher Yu, you'll avoid a lot of detours."

Li Heng didn't express his opinion, but instead joked, "I thought you would side with Consort Huang."

Editor-in-Chief Liao laughed, "Personally speaking, I do side with Zhaoyi. But I also know that the chances of you two getting married are slim."

Li Heng still didn't say anything, and circled around him, asking, "Is Sister Xu still in Shanghai?"

The "Sister Xu" he mentioned refers to Xu Suyun.

When this was mentioned, Editor-in-Chief Liao's smile immediately vanished. "Yes."

Li Heng, ever the gossip, asked, "At your house?"

Editor-in-Chief Liao tacitly agreed.

Li Heng gave a thumbs up: "As expected of my senior brother, you're amazing!"

Editor-in-Chief Liao was both amused and exasperated: "Stop mocking me. Are you laughing at how I was so infatuated with Zhao Ran back in Aba?"

Li Heng grinned and said, "No, absolutely not, don't overthink it."

Editor-in-Chief Liao took out two cigarettes, offered him one, lit it, took a few deep drags, and said, "In terms of relationships, I didn't set a good example for you. I never expected to fall for Suyun so quickly."

Li Heng asked, "Are you serious this time?"

Editor-in-Chief Liao took a few more puffs of his cigarette: "I've sent away all my past lovers, and now I'm devoted to Suyun wholeheartedly."

This reminded him of what Teacher Yu had said: "Your senior brother has been having affairs with three women for a long time, one from a TV station and two from customs."

Li Heng was worried for him: "According to Teacher Yu, you are 19 years apart, and Sister Xu's family may not agree."

Editor-in-Chief Liao said, "They've already contacted me once."

Li Heng asked, "How is the situation?"

Editor-in-Chief Liao remained silent.

Clearly, the first round of negotiations failed.

After that, the two remained silent for a long time, each lost in their own thoughts. To comfort him, Li Heng even smoked two cigarettes with him.

However, their smoking habits are fundamentally different.

Li Heng doesn't like smoking and isn't addicted. He just lets the smoke pass through his mouth and never puts it in his throat; it's like going through a process.

But Editor-in-Chief Liao was different; he took every sip deep into his lungs, which, in his words, was how he enjoyed life.

Editor-in-Chief Liao smoked five cigarettes in a row. Before stubbing them out, he took out a money order from his briefcase and handed it to him: "White Deer Plain is a bestseller, beyond our expectations. It has already sold 4.2 million copies domestically. At the same time, we have reached overseas publishing agreements with 34 countries and regions. It will bring you a considerable income."

Li Heng took the draft and glanced at it.

Wow! Goodness, 270 million!
After confirming the amount was correct, Li Heng blew a kiss on the bank draft and then said to Editor-in-Chief Liao, "Come with me to the bank."

Editor-in-Chief Liao stopped him, "Don't rush, there's more."

As he spoke, he pulled out a bank draft from his briefcase: "The book 'To Live' is still selling in more than 20 countries and regions, including the UK, France, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. This is the settlement as of November 20th. You keep it."

Li Heng took the second draft and exclaimed in surprise, "506 million? That much?"

Editor-in-Chief Liao asked with a smile, "Satisfied?"

Li Heng said, "This is an unexpected delight, and of course I'm satisfied."

Editor-in-Chief Liao said, "After all, it's foreign exchange earned, so it's still worth some money."

Li Heng knew that most of the revenue from books published overseas was distributed to various channels, and only a small portion ended up in his hands.

Even so, he felt very comfortable.

How could I not feel great? A sudden windfall of 776 million yuan—that's a huge sum of money!

He was dreaming that after the film adaptation of "To Live" won an award at the Cannes Film Festival, the book would become a hit in the overseas book market, with global sales exceeding 2000 million copies.

If history unfolds as expected, he will reap another fortune.

This is also the deeper reason why he wanted to sell "To Live" to the famous director Zhang Yimou, instead of paying attention to Dai Yue.

Because he has a long-term vision, aiming at the overseas book market, rather than the petty profits from film and television copyrights.

Editor-in-Chief Liao accompanied him to the Bank of China and the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, where they deposited two sums of money into his accounts. After leaving the banks, Editor-in-Chief Liao extended an invitation: "Would you like to come to my house for a while?"

Li Heng raised his left wrist to look at his watch: "Stop messing around, I'm still a student, I have to go back to class."

Editor-in-Chief Liao found it amusing, "If you hadn't brought this up, I would have almost forgotten that you were a student."

Li Heng gloated a little, starting his self-praise mode: "That's because I'm too dazzling in other aspects."

"That's true."

Editor-in-Chief Liao echoed this sentiment, then started the van to take him back to Fudan University, saying as he drove, "Bring your younger siblings over for a visit another day."

Since they were all like-minded people, Li Heng stopped pretending and asked, "Which one should I bring?"

Editor-in-Chief Liao said, "It's up to you. Whoever was the first person that came to mind just now, bring them along."

Li Heng suddenly fell silent.

Editor-in-Chief Liao glanced at him, then glanced at him again, and asked curiously, "Who was the first person you thought of just now?"

Li Heng turned his head and looked out the window.

Editor-in-Chief Liao persisted, asking, "Xiao Han? Teacher Yu? Or Mai Sui?"

Li Heng ignored him.

Editor-in-Chief Liao frowned and went through all the girls around him one by one, then suddenly asked, "Junior brother, you...you didn't mean to think of that girl Zhou Shihe, did you?"

Li Heng said dejectedly, "Can we please stop guessing?"

Editor-in-Chief Liao suppressed a laugh, "In this area, I used to consider myself quite skilled, but since meeting you, I've realized that what I did was just child's play, nothing special, and I can't compare to you."

Li Heng rolled his eyes at him and changed the subject: "You're so great, your job is editor-in-chief, why don't you ever ask about my new book?"

Editor-in-Chief Liao turned the car left at the intersection ahead: "Do you think I don't want to? But my teacher had already instructed me not to ask about your new book too early. He said that you are at the age when your imagination is most boundless, so let you express yourself freely and don't put pressure on you."

Li Heng thought to himself with delight, "The teacher is really helpful. These words are so pleasing to the ear."

When he got off the bus at the school gate, he remembered the letter Zhao Ran had given him and wanted to tell it to her several times.

But Zhao Ran had solemnly instructed himself before leaving that he would give the letter to his senior brother in three months. Now, how long has it been? It's not the right time yet.

As he was closing the door, Editor-in-Chief Liao called out from his car, "Come over to my house sometime."

"Eh."

Li Heng responded and, after the van drove away, walked straight towards the School of Management without hesitation.

When he rushed to the classroom, the bell had just rung for the sixth period, which was mathematical statistics, taught by an elderly professor.

Li Heng pushed open the door and entered. The professor paused, adjusted his reading glasses, and looked him over. After recognizing him, he smiled and said, "This old man is lucky today. Even the top students from Fudan University have come to listen to my lecture. I can brag about this for half a year."

A burst of laughter erupted in the classroom, and everyone turned to look at Li Heng.

Li Heng was used to this kind of scene. Without blushing or skipping a beat, he went to the window and, as usual, sat down at the same table with Zhang Bing.

Mathematical statistics was a completely new field for Li Heng. He listened very attentively, taking notes and paying attention to the lecture. His well-behaved demeanor made the old professor exclaim that he was blessed by God today.

The result was that the classroom erupted in laughter once again.

A girl in the front row handed me a note.

The note read: "Li, you great talent, I have a cousin who works in a Shanghai municipal government department and wants to get to know you."

Li Heng didn't know how to respond after reading it.
But in the end, to save face for his female classmate, he wrote: "In principle, I don't recommend that your cousin get to know me, but if she really wants to, she'll have to wait in line. I'll give her a number; the current number is 998."

The girl received the note, but instead of getting angry, she leaned on the table, her shoulders trembling, trying her best to hold back her laughter. It was a very difficult task for her.

Zhang Bing wrote a note: Li Guang is avoiding me and Bai Wanying now. Lao Li, do you have any good ideas?

Li Heng replied: "He's just shy because he was rejected. With Li Guang's optimistic personality, he'll be fine after a while. Don't worry about it too much."

This viewpoint coincided with Bai Wanying's analysis, and Zhang Bing finally felt relieved.

After the sixth period, Chen Guifen gave two letters to Li Heng. The girl didn't say a word the whole time and didn't linger in front of him, acting completely businesslike.

Zhang Bing whispered, "It's a pity. Gui Fen used to be so naive. She was ruined by Lao Hu."

For the first time, he heard Zhang Bing express dissatisfaction with others.

Li Heng didn't reply, but the image of Chen Guifen and a boy embracing and groping each other in the shadows by the roadside last night flashed through his mind.

He was as attentive as ever in the next two classes.

As soon as the bell rang for the end of the 8th period, he wanted to rush to Accounting Class 1 without stopping, but Li Xian kept him occupied for two minutes on the way.

Because of this delay, when he arrived at the Accounting Class 1 classroom again, only Zhou Shihe was left.

At that moment, King Zhou was engrossed in doing his homework and didn't notice him entering the classroom.

Upon approaching, Li Heng glanced at her from the side, then sat down next to her and patiently waited for her to finish the questions.

About five minutes later, Zhou Shihe closed the book, capped the pen, and turned the simple black and white pen toward him, appearing very serene.

Li Heng asked, "Where are the wheat ears?"

Zhou Shihe said gently, "Tomorrow is the weekend, and there's a freshman sports meet. She and Ye Ning went to a meeting at the student council. She's the host of the opening ceremony of the sports meet."

Li Heng involuntarily slapped his forehead with his right hand: "Look at my terrible memory, she seemed to have mentioned hosting the sports meet to me a while ago. By the way, are you going to watch it tomorrow?"

Zhou Shihe shook her head slightly, not very interested.

Li Heng said, "The three of them are all in the student council, so they definitely won't miss the sports meet. Anyway, you're bored at home alone, so let's go check it out together tomorrow."

Zhou Shihe asked, "Aren't you writing a new book?"

"Yes, I will write, but I haven't watched Mai Sui host in a long time, and I want to catch a glimpse of her."

Li Heng was speaking when he suddenly realized, "You haven't already read my first chapter, have you?"

Zhou Shihe smiled knowingly, "Mm."

Alright, the reason I didn't lock the manuscript isn't for you to see, it's for Teacher Yu to see.

We agreed that Teacher Yu would be the first reader, right?

What happened to the promise that the cunning wife would be the first reader after finishing her book?

They're all fucking dead.

Taking in his expression, Zhou Shihe hesitated before asking, "Did I do something wrong?"

Li Heng said, "No."

Zhou Shihe asked, "When you put your manuscript on your desk, was it for Sui Sui or for Teacher Yu?"

Li Heng vehemently denied it: "No. You're being too polite. We're such good friends, it's my honor if any of you see this."

Zhou Shihe gave him a strange look, started packing her books, and said gently, "Teacher Yu wants to marry you. Sui Sui will be your woman sooner or later. I will behave myself from now on."

It means that I will no longer enter his study or touch his things without his permission.

“Oh, you’re being too polite. We’ve wasted the past year and a half of our time together,” Li Heng said.

Zhou Shihe smiled and said, "It wasn't a waste of time. Let's go, I'll treat you to dinner."

Upon hearing that someone was inviting him to dinner, foodie Li immediately perked up: "Really?"

Zhou Shihe glanced at him, then walked lightly toward the classroom door.

Gazing at her slender back, Li Heng understood that the girl had only treated him to dinner this week because she felt apologetic; otherwise, she wouldn't have gotten a single red thread (a sign of prostitution).

Or perhaps she was repaying a favor by treating him to a meal, not wanting to owe him too much.

It's the end of the 8th period, and there are many alumni coming and going on the way.

Since Li Heng and Zhou Shihe were both prominent figures at Fudan University, almost every boy and girl turned their heads and secretly glanced at them as they passed by.

Zhou Shihe was already used to this. After walking out of the school gate with a nonchalant air, she asked him, "Where should we eat?"

Li Heng looked around at the surrounding restaurants: "Anywhere is fine?"

Zhou Shihe said, "Okay."

Li Heng asked, "Are there any restrictions on the money?"

Zhou Shihe rarely makes a witty remark: "You gave me such a large sum of money, it's getting a little bloated in my pocket."

Li Heng corrected him, "It's not something I'm giving you; it's what you deserve for your labor."

Zhou Shihe blinked.

Li Heng thought for a moment and said, "I wanted to go to the department store to buy two boxes of dark chocolate for Mai Sui, but I forgot when I went to the bank to deposit the money."

Zhou Shihe said, "How about we go to the Blue Sky Hotel?"

Li Heng said happily, "I'm having lunch at the Blue Sky Restaurant, and dinner at the Blue Sky Restaurant again. I'm living the high life now."

Zhou Shihe smiled quietly and turned halfway to walk towards Wujiaochang.

Her outfit today was a sight to behold—a light brown wool sweater, its refreshing color and simple accessories reflecting her own ethereal charm. Truly, every glance was filled with elegance, every step a poem.

Noticing his gaze on her, she initially didn't react, but as time passed, a scene involuntarily appeared in her mind:
The scene where he suddenly opened the bathroom door while she was taking a shower.

Recalling that scene, Zhou Shihe suddenly felt uncomfortable all over. She felt as if his gaze was like infrared rays that could penetrate her clothes, and her body seemed to be completely exposed to him.

After walking a short distance, Zhou Shihe paused for a few seconds, then suddenly pretended to bend down to tie her shoelaces, trying to get him to walk ahead.

As a result, Li Heng also stopped and stood beside her watching her tie her shoelaces.

Zhou Shihe paused, loosened and tied her left shoelace, then loosened and tied her right shoelace. After waiting a while, seeing that he still didn't move, she repeated the process, loosening and tying her left shoelace, then loosening and tying her right shoelace.

Li Heng then spoke up: "Comrade Shihe? Are you demonstrating how to tie your shoelaces to me? But to be fair, your bow tie is really well done. Why don't you tie it for me?"

He then added, "Anyway, there's no one on this road, so no one else can see it."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Shihe pouted her delicate little mouth, then puckered it tightly, took a breath, smoothed her hair behind her ear with her right hand, stood up a moment later, lowered her head, and walked away quietly.

Li Heng caught up, then quickened his pace to pass her, muttering to himself, "If I were a girl, and if I were as beautiful as you, I'd want everyone to look at me, I'd want to walk around the campus five times a day, making all the boys drool and all the girls green with envy. How can you be so petty? Just because you're so beautiful, do I have to cover my eyes with a towel when I walk next to you..."

Zhou Shihe looked up and glanced at him, then glanced at him again, her tightly pouting cherry lips gradually relaxing.

As she listened, for a fleeting moment, she gave a barely perceptible, faint smile.

Li Heng turned around.

Like a startled bird, she immediately suppressed her smile.

Li Heng stared at her face for a while, then suddenly said, "Don't try anything funny. I can see right through you."

Sensing the aggression in his eyes, Zhou Shihe turned her head away without making a sound, avoiding his gaze.

Half a minute later, seeing that he was still looking at her, she turned her head back, looked at him demurely, and after a long while, her red lips moved slightly, as if she was about to speak.

But who is Li Heng? He's a seasoned veteran. He didn't give her a chance to speak at all, turned his gaze away, and continued striding towards Wujiaochang.

Watching his retreating figure grow ever more distant, Zhou Shihe, who had remained motionless, felt utterly listless. Finally, she took a step and followed him at a leisurely pace.

Arriving at the Pentagon, and seeing that Zhou Dawang behind him hadn't arrived yet, Li Heng decided to wait at the roasted sweet potato stall.

At this moment, Zhang Bing is busy roasting sweet potatoes, Tang Dailing is slicing braised pork with a knife, and Bai Wanying is collecting money.

Wei Sisi and Wei Xiaozhu were also busy; one helped pack the food, and the other carried a basin to pick out the braised dishes ordered by customers.

Li Heng stood to the side and watched for a while before saying, "Why is business so good today?"

Before anyone inside the stall could speak, a local Shanghai auntie chimed in with a smile:

“I came all the way from Jing’an. I heard that I could occasionally see you, the great writer, here on weekends. It’s true what they say. I’m here for the first time today and I’ve already met you.”

Li Heng was taken aback.

Zhang Bing, Tang Dailing, Wei Xiaozhu, Wei Sisi, and Bai Wanying also turned their heads to look over. They had been discussing why business had been booming lately, and why so many of their customers were from out of town.
So that's what happened. We've finally found the reason.

I told you, if the taste of braised food hasn't changed, even if it's delicious, it's hard to attract diners from outside Yangpu. Besides, there are braised offal vendors in Jing'an.

Li Heng pointed to himself, somewhat incredulous: "Did Auntie come for me?"

"Otherwise, this braised pork offal tastes very good, but it's tiring for me to sit on the bus for such a long time at my age." The aunt not only said this, but also called to the two sisters behind her, saying that they came together.

One of the women even brought a camera, saying she wanted to take a photo with Li Heng.

Li Heng readily agreed, and then the group took a group photo with the braised pork stall as the backdrop.

Amidst the chatter of the customers, Li Heng talked for a long time and discovered that a significant portion of them were outsiders who had come specifically for him. He truly hadn't expected that he would unwittingly become a spokesperson for the braised pork stall.

Damn it, who the hell can I complain to about this?

Zhou Shihe arrived, but didn't approach. Instead, she stood a short distance away watching him chat with a group of elderly men and women.

It must be said that the person she was looking at was quite eloquent, and in no time at all, she had everyone laughing heartily. Suddenly, the braised pork stall became one of the liveliest spots in Wujiao Square.

After about 10 minutes, Li Heng finally got away and walked up to her, saying, "Sorry to keep you waiting."

Zhou Shihe nodded slightly and walked towards the Blue Sky Hotel.

He followed.

She asked, "Xiaozhu is here too? I think I saw her through the gaps in the crowd just now."

“Yes, he’s wearing a yellow plaid shirt,” Li Heng said.

Zhou Shihe glanced back at the stall, seemingly lost in thought.

Li Heng asked, "Should we invite Xiaozhu and the others over for dinner?"

Zhou Shihe asked, "Are you free?"

Li Heng said, "There are too many people today, and I'm afraid we won't be able to leave for a while. But we can wait a little while if you're not hungry."

He said that because he knew she and Wei Xiaozhu were close, and that he had even invited Wei Xiaozhu to his hometown in Hangzhou during the summer vacation.

Zhou Shihe said, "Then let's wait a while, I'll go shopping with you at the department store first."

"Okay." Without further ado, the two turned around and went to the other side, entering the department store.

I've lost count of how many times I've bought dark chocolate, but Mai Sui just loves it, and hey, she just can't seem to gain weight. Isn't that enviable?

Every time he stepped into the store, the staff recognized him and knew he was there to buy chocolate again.

Knowing the place well, Li Heng went to the chocolate section, picked out two boxes, and then asked her, "Is there anything you want to buy?"

Zhou Shihe pondered and said, "I'm thinking about whether or not to buy a TV."

Li Heng said, "Buy it if you want. It's not worth much to you anyway, and the ticket is just a matter of a word."

Zhou Shihe said gently, "I don't like watching TV alone."

Li Heng understood. "You still haven't gotten used to Building 27?"

Zhou Shihe nodded: "Staying at home alone always feels too lonely."

Li Heng said, "It's because the house is bigger."

Zhou Shihe went to the television area to take a look, but in the end, she couldn't make up her mind.

Seeing this, Li Heng said, "Our two houses are so close, if you want to watch TV, just come to my house. You have the key, it's very convenient. The key is that Mai Sui will keep you company."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Shihe turned and left.

Li Heng was bewildered, and belatedly caught up with him, saying, "Why do I feel like I've been tricked? Why do I feel like you were just waiting for me to say that?"

Zhou Shihe looked at him, then looked at him again, trying to suppress her laughter, but in the end she couldn't help but laugh softly.

The braised food stall was quite crowded, so the two didn't go over. Instead, they wandered around for a bit, during which he asked, "How's my new book coming along?"

Zhou Shihe, without turning her head, asked, "Dust Settles Down?"

Li Heng said, "Yes."

Zhou Shihe said, "Okay."

Li Heng smacked his lips, gazing at her beautiful profile.

Zhou Shihe bought a bottle of ink at a general store and said, "I like 'Dust Settles Down' no less than 'White Deer Plain.' The writing is very beautiful, and you have made great progress."

Li Heng believed this and said happily, "So I plan to finish writing the new book before publishing it, which will take a relatively long time."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Shihe looked at him, seemingly wanting to say something but then stopping herself.

Having spent so much time together, including living under the same roof for over 42 days, they had developed a tacit understanding; he understood her with just a glance.

Li Heng took the initiative to speak: "Given our relationship, there's no need to be so polite. Whether it's Teacher Yu or you, once my manuscript is finished, whoever has time can read it. Don't stand on ceremony."

He did not mention the wheat ears.

Because in his heart, Mai Sui was his woman.

Zhou Shihe said quietly, "Okay."

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Ten thousand words have been updated.

(End of this chapter)