1987 My Era

Chapter 563, We've Taken Another Step Closer, But a Variable Happens (Please Subscribe!)
After dinner, Mai Sui had to touch up her makeup and review her lines, so she was busy and didn't have time to spend with him.

Before leaving, she asked, "Are you leaving right after your performance?"

That was the original plan, but Li Heng, knowing the situation, changed his mind: "Today is New Year's Day, I'll rest for a while and wait for you to finish hosting before we go together."

Upon hearing this, Mai Sui seemed quite happy. He had mentioned several times in the past that he liked seeing her in bright red clothes, so a couple of days ago she specially bought him a bright red coat, an imported one, at a high price, according to his preferences.

She felt it was well worth the money as long as he stayed with her for the entire party.

Seeing that Mai Sui had gone to review her lines, He Xiao came over and asked, "Li Heng, you're also going on stage to perform, do you need to put on makeup?"

Li Heng asked, "Where is Zhou Shihe?"

He Xiao said, "She's in the dressing room. She's very good at makeup and she's doing it herself."

This reminded Li Heng of last New Year's Day, when it seemed that Miss Zhou had helped him with his makeup. He immediately said, "I'll go take a look."

He didn't want to wear makeup, but he was too embarrassed to make an exception. Besides, he was going to perform on stage, and makeup would make him look better on camera.

Upon entering the dressing room, He Xiao asked, "Do you want Zhou Shihe to do your makeup, or should I do it for you?"

Well, now that they've asked him that, he's not going to make a choice.

He plopped down in the chair next to Zhou Shihe and casually said, "Either is fine."

He Xiao wanted to cultivate a good relationship with a big shot like Li Heng, as it would be immensely beneficial both at school and in the future. So, she seized the opportunity and said, "Shihe won't be finished in a short time. My makeup skills are pretty good too, so let me try to help you?"

Li Heng readily agreed: "Okay, then I'll trouble you, senior."

As the saying goes, "If you don't have the skills, don't take on the job."

He Xiao dared to recommend herself, so she must have some skills. Li Heng couldn't find a single fault with her, and finally slumped comfortably in the chair, letting her do whatever she wanted.

Zhou Shihe, standing nearby, could see both of them through the makeup mirror, but it didn't affect her; she continued with her own tasks.

He Xiao ran her pen along his eyelashes. "Great writer, your eyelashes are even prettier than a girl's. Your mother must have been a great beauty, right?"

How should I respond to that?
Admit it, I'm being a bit immodest.

If you don't admit it, then I'm speaking up for Comrade Tian Run'e.

Li Heng said with a smile, "Everyone I know says that I look a lot like my mother."

He Xiao nodded: "That's really beautiful. I heard she came to our school?"

Li Heng said, "I came here once during the period when school started."

He Xiao was very interested in Li Heng.

This interest wasn't in romantic relationships, but rather in his legendary rise from humble beginnings to become a successful person. While putting on makeup, she kept talking, constantly trying to find topics to chat about with Li Heng.

During the conversation, Li Heng joked, "Senior, you're the student council president, you have a lot to take care of. Won't it be a hassle for you to do my makeup?"

He Xiao laughed and said, "I do have something to do, but nothing is as important as you, junior. I'll take care of you first."

As the conversation progressed, she became quite adept at handling the situation, subtly shifting her address from "great writer" to "junior," which added a touch of warmth.

Zhou Shihe glanced at the two of them out of the corner of her eye, then began her finishing touches. About two minutes later, she packed up her makeup tools, got up, said goodbye to the two of them, and left.

Watching Zhou Shihe leave, He Xiao sighed, "Wow, she's so beautiful and has such a great temperament. Shihe is the most beautiful woman I've ever seen. Junior, you spend every day with her, don't you fall for her? To be honest, if I were a guy, I think I would fall in love with her at first sight."

Li Heng blurted out, "There must be a lot of guys who fall in love with her at first sight, but not many dare to express it. But my wife is pretty good too. Senior, please praise my wife more next time, I'll be very happy."

He Xiaocheng was amused by him and teased, "Your wife is indeed very good, but which one should I praise?"

Li Heng opened his eyes and looked at her.

He Xiao was not afraid, but said, "I just saw Mai Sui feeding you meat."

"Huh? Isn't it supposed to be subtle?" Li Heng said, embarrassed.

He Xiao said, "It was subtle, and Mai Sui acted quickly, even tiptoeing to cover it up afterwards. But these things couldn't be hidden from someone with ulterior motives."

Li Heng countered with, "Oh, so you're quite thoughtful, senior?"

He Xiao made no attempt to hide it: "I never used to do makeup for anyone, whether it was a girl or a boy."

At this point, she added, "Don't worry, junior, I won't have any designs on you. I'm just doing your makeup. Later, I can brag about it outside, saying, 'Look, this is my junior in the newspaper, and I, He, even did his makeup.'"

Li Heng laughed and replied, "Okay, I'll ask you for help next time I have a chance to get my makeup done."

He Xiao happily agreed.

After finishing his makeup, Li Heng left the backstage area and entered the crowded Xianghui Hall through a special passage, heading towards the performers' designated area.

Just as He Xiao was tidying up her makeup tools, her best friend walked in: "You did Li Heng's makeup?"

He Xiao said, "Yeah, aren't you envious?"

My best friend looked genuinely envious: "It's a lie to say I'm not envious. After all, this is Li Heng. He's talented, handsome, and rich. What girl wouldn't want to spend some time alone with him? Even if she can't have sex with him, she can still reminisce about it for a long time."

He Xiao said, "Don't think like that. You won't get close to him with that kind of thinking, and he won't give you a chance."

My best friend asked, "You mean, he thinks you don't have romantic feelings for him, which is why he made you put on makeup?"

"That's for sure. He's very shrewd, surrounded by stunning beauties. It was really not easy for me to snatch the opportunity to do his makeup from Zhou Shihe," He Xiao said.

My best friend got excited: "Won't this offend Zhou Shihe?"

He Xiao was very confident about this: "No. If I offended her like that, then she would be all talk and no action, and it would be a waste of God's unique favor to her."

This great favor refers to "appearance and temperament".

His best friend agreed and asked, "You really have no feelings for Li Heng?"

He Xiao smiled and said, "Stop trying to trick me. It's really not true. The last senior, Ye Zhanyan, was still bleeding when she was found dead in the wilderness. I have to learn from that."

The best friend sighed, "Sigh, I didn't expect that even someone as beautiful as Senior Ye would be rejected. Li Heng is really hard to win over."

He Xiao said, "There is a method to everything. Senior Ye actually had the necessary qualifications to get in, but she was too impatient."

My best friend shook his head: "I'm afraid it's difficult. Look at Maisui tonight. Compared to a year ago, doesn't she seem to have emerged from her cocoon and undergone a complete transformation? I think if we were to rank the kings and queens now, Maisui would definitely be the undisputed number one queen."

He Xiao said, "I can't deny your point of view. But actually, they each have their own unique characteristics. Many boys also like Wei Xiaozhu's type. As she gets older, her pure temperament hasn't diminished at all. I have to say she's blessed with good looks."

My best friend recalled a few of Xiao Wang's and asked, "If you were this beautiful, would you be attracted to Li Heng?"

He Xiao said with a smile, "If I had these external conditions, I wouldn't want to recklessly court death without careful planning. I don't want to become the second Ye Zhanyan."

....
Xianghui Hall.

The exclusive area for performers is located on the left front.

Seeing an empty seat next to Zhou Shihe, Li Heng naturally sat down there.

He made conversation by asking, "Is my makeup too heavy?"

Zhou Shihe tilted her head slightly, observed carefully, and then objectively commented, "It's pretty good. Senior He's approach varies from person to person, and her skill level is quite high."

Li Heng casually asked, "How does it compare to you?"

Zhou Shihe glanced at him quietly, smiling without saying a word.

Li Heng sensed the king's subtle arrogance and immediately seized the opportunity: "When we get to Singapore, you can help me with my makeup."

Zhou Shihe said, "They have dedicated makeup artists there, all of them are top-tier."

Li Heng blurted out, "Big brand or not, it doesn't matter. What's most important is that it suits my taste. Your cooking is the best for me."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Shihe paused for a few seconds, then fell silent.

Seeing that Li Heng and Zhou Shihe were whispering to each other, Huang Ziyue in the back row tried her best to overcome her psychological barrier against the Fudan University professor, wrote a note, and then asked the person next to her to pass it to Li Heng.

Li Heng felt a tap on his back, and when he turned around, he saw a note.

He asked, "Whose?"

The girl behind me said, "Huang Ziyue."

He thought for a moment, then opened it. It read: Senior, your grandfather invites you to his home for dinner.

Li Heng was speechless. This girl had absolutely no experience in pursuing boys, and she was even using her grandfather as a shield.

He didn't reply.

A little while later, the girl behind him passed him another note.

He opened it, and it read: Senior, I'd like to be your friend.

He still didn't reply.

Huang Ziyue then passed him two more notes, but he was too lazy to open them.

Seeing Zhou Shihe looking at his notes with a strange expression, Li Heng spread his hands and said, "Don't look at me like that. I didn't ask anyone to do it. It was all voluntary."

Zhou Shihe smiled knowingly, glanced at her watch, and saw that there were still 3 minutes until 7 o'clock.

Three minutes flew by, and the New Year's Eve party officially began.

Huang Ziyue is unreliable, but Principal Sun is indeed a pragmatic person. He didn't even bring a script to his speech on stage; he just spoke casually for about a minute and a half.

Time has bestowed upon her an inner charm, even the rustling sound of her fingertips across the pages of a book is alluring. A single sentence encapsulates the essence of Maishou on the stage.

As Mai Sui passionately hosted the gala on stage, Li Heng noticed that many eyes were secretly watching him from all around.

Clearly, the more outstanding Mai Sui was, the more intense the rumors between the two became.

Li Heng even saw some school leaders glancing over.

In this situation, he muttered to Zhou Shihe, "Have you ever heard any rumors about me and Mai Sui behind my back?"

Zhou Shihe looked up at the wheat ears and answered succinctly, "Yes."

Li Heng demanded, "Tell me a couple of things, you see the vice principal is looking at me."

Zhou Shihe said gently, "Many people are speculating about who will be the ultimate winner between Xiao Han and Sui Sui."

Li Heng was stunned for a moment, feeling as if he had shot himself in the foot. "Miss Zhou, put your hand on your heart and tell me, did you do this on purpose?"

Zhou Shihe blinked like him, then remained silent without replying.

The host announced the program. Amidst the anticipation of the crowd, Li Heng and Zhou Shihe exchanged a glance, and in perfect unison, stood up and walked onto the stage.

"Clap clap clap...!"

The applause was thunderous and lasted for a long time.

On New Year's Day last year, both of them were very popular.

But this New Year's Day, their status was different. Whether it was teachers, classmates, or alumni, everyone in the audience looked at them with respect.

They were all driven by fanaticism!

After all, this is a big shot who topped the Billboard charts in the US!

While it may not be the last time such a feat has been achieved, it is certainly unprecedented. Moreover, to receive this honor while being both of Asian descent and Chinese is truly remarkable. It's important to understand that the international environment of that era was not particularly friendly towards Asians and Chinese people.

Instrumental albums have broken down barriers in one fell swoop, just like the most famous editorial in the People's Daily recently: They are heroes! They are international masters!
As soon as the two stood on the stage, the previously bustling scene gradually quieted down, and thousands upon thousands of eyes fell on them.

The man looked at Zhou Shihe, and the woman looked at Li Heng, and they couldn't help but feel a little distracted.

Suddenly, a loud female voice came from below the stage: "Li Heng! Zhou Shihe! You two should get together! You two look like a perfect couple!"

That's right, it's the voice of a crazy woman!
Everyone turned to look, and the girl covered her face with her hands and hid under her seat. The entire Xianghui Hall burst into laughter.

Li Heng looked at Zhou Shihe.

Zhou Shihe looked up at him with a sense of unease. Two seconds later, their gazes separated, one focused on the piano in front of her, her slender, delicate hands resting on the black and white keys.

Li Heng was waiting for the sound of the zither.

Today's piece is "Rain Imprint," with Ms. Zhou playing the piano and him providing support.

Before long, a beautiful piano melody began to play, the notes filled with emotion and artistry. At one point, Li Heng joined in, his thoughts racing.

I still remember last New Year's Day, he saw Huang Zhaoyi in the corner, and Teacher Yu in the audience did not mention the Yu family gathering. Mai Sui's feelings for him at that time were ambiguous. Oh, and there was also that bastard Liu Yue.

His mind was wandering until the audience erupted in enthusiastic applause again, which brought him back to his senses.

The two stood up side by side, thanked the audience, and then walked down the stage.

In just a few steps, the two walked as if they were on a Hollywood red carpet, with teachers and students who had the opportunity taking pictures of them.

One female teacher even jumped up from her seat, handed her camera to the teacher next to her, and then smiled and said to Li Heng and Zhou Shihe, "Li Heng, Shihe, let's take a picture together."

They were all teachers from their own school, and in this kind of setting, neither Li Heng nor Zhou Shihe had any reason to refuse! They readily agreed.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Zhou Shihe stood in the middle, Li Heng stood on the left, and the female teacher stood on the right, and they took a group photo.

It wasn't just one camera taking pictures; many cameras joined in the fun, making a series of "click" sounds.

Many people were extremely frustrated, wondering why they hadn't thought of this possibility. This gave the female teacher a huge advantage.

After taking the photos, the female teacher continued her earlier joking remarks about the girls, and exclaimed, "Your performance on stage was so well-matched, it was truly a perfect match."

Zhou Shihe glanced at someone out of the corner of her eye, then quietly walked to her seat.

Li Heng smiled at the teacher and followed.

Many classmates reached out to shake hands with the two. Zhou Shihe at most gave a gentle smile, but didn't extend her hand.

Li Heng, on the other hand, took a more approachable approach, shaking hands with everyone, regardless of gender, as quickly as possible.

In just a few dozen steps, they traversed the arduous journey of the Long March.

Back in her seat, Zhou Shihe stared intently at Mai Sui as she reappeared for a while. When the second performance began, she asked softly, "Were you daydreaming on stage just now?"

Li Heng asked urgently, "Did it affect the performance?"

Zhou Shihe said, "Yes, but the impact is not significant."

Li Hengsong took a breath.

Zhou Shihe asked, "Did you think of Consort Huang?"

Li Heng was taken aback: "Why did you mention her?"

Zhou Shihe said, "Last year she sat in the right corner, and today you stared blankly in that direction for a while."

Li Heng's eyelids twitched. "Why are you paying attention to me instead of focusing on playing the piano?"

Zhou Shihe said gently, "We are partners. I can sense if you get distracted."

Li Heng paused, feeling dizzy, and said irritably, "I'm really scared of you. But you guessed wrong. Wei Xiaozhu and Dai Qing were in that direction last year, and they're still in that direction today."

Zhou Shihe subconsciously observed his eyebrows to judge whether he was lying. But who was Li Heng? He was a seasoned veteran. Having learned his lesson last time, he was well-prepared this time. He pretended to be a little tired, rubbing his temples to block her view.

Seeing this, Zhou Shihe withdrew her gaze, no longer wanting to delve deeper, and asked gently, "When do you plan to leave?"

Li Heng replied, "I promised Mai Sui that I would wait for her to leave together tonight."

He then asked, "Do you want to go back early?"

Zhou Shihe hesitated for a few seconds, then said, "Yes."

Li Heng asked, "Is something the matter?"

Zhou Shihe gave a soft "hmm".

Li Heng said, "After this performance, I'll take you home first, and then come back to pick up Mai Sui later."

Zhou Shihe instinctively wanted to say no, but it was the dead of winter and it was already dark outside. It wasn't safe for her to be alone, so she didn't say it in the end.

Because the two started off with such high expectations, to be honest, even though the second performance was very good, it still made people feel what a gap it was.

After the second performance, when the stage lights dimmed, the two left their seats together and walked to the back.

The originally crowded passageway was quickly cleared by everyone pushing to the sides as they approached.

This!
That's just the magic!
Among students, besides those two, who else has this kind of influence?
Many people think this way.

One boy even asked Li Heng, "Great writer, aren't you going to watch the gala?"

Li Heng replied with a smile, "No, I have something to do and need to go first. I'll be back later."

He led the way, and Zhou Shihe followed closely behind him with her head down like a little bird. Under the watchful eyes of many, the two finally managed to leave Xianghui Hall.

Just then, a heavy rain started falling outside, with sand particles mixed in with the rain, so it looked like it was going to snow.

None of us brought umbrellas, and it became difficult.

Li Heng asked, "Did Mai Sui and the other two bring umbrellas?"

Zhou Shihe replied, "They came over at noon. The weather was still pretty good then, and they didn't bring any."

Upon hearing this, Li Heng tugged at her and pulled her back to the door, instructing her, "Wait for me here. I'll go ask Xiaozhu; she usually carries an umbrella in her bag."

Zhou Shihe agreed and then stood in the light.

Wei Xiaozhu, who was sitting in the back row, was intently watching the stage when she suddenly felt a light tap on her left shoulder. She turned her head.

When she saw it was him, Wei Xiaozhu smiled and asked, "Why did you come to see me? Is something the matter?"

Li Heng stated his purpose directly: "It's raining outside, can I borrow your umbrella?"

Wei Xiaozhu readily opened her bag and took out an umbrella for him.

Li Heng accepted it, said thank you, and turned to leave.

Watching him disappear in an instant, Liu Yanling said, "Why did you walk so fast? I also have an umbrella in my bag. Li Heng is so tall, how come one umbrella is enough for him and Zhou Shihe?"

Upon hearing this, Wei Xiaozhu couldn't help but recall the question she had asked at Xuhui Hospital.

He forbade himself to ask about Zhou Shihe at the time.

Actually, she had just thought of handing Yanling's umbrella to him as well, but she immediately rejected the idea.

Perhaps this heavy rain was fate, just like how harmoniously matched they were on stage.

She smiled and said, "If you give him the umbrella, how are we going to get back later?"

"Oh! That's right. If we gave him all the umbrellas, we wouldn't be able to get back easily. He truly is a talented man; he's so considerate." Liu Yanling held her 36D breasts steady, trying to keep them from swaying—it was too tiring. Wei Xiaozhu glanced at her friend's chest, chuckled to herself, and then turned her attention back to the stage.

Once outside, Li Heng opened his umbrella and walked over to shield Zhou Shihe's head.

Zhou Shihe glanced at his profile, then took small, agile steps and headed towards Lushan Village.

She didn't ask him why he only borrowed one umbrella.

She didn't even ask Liu Yanling, who was next to Xiaozhu, if she didn't have an umbrella.

Because she knew that, whether he meant it or not, it was better to pretend not to understand some things; asking would only make things awkward for both of them.

Furthermore, this wasn't the first time the two had shared an umbrella, so she was relatively accepting of it.

Wei Xiaozhu is particularly fond of beauty, as evidenced by the fact that she changes her clothes every day. The umbrella is exquisite, but not very big, and it's a bit cramped for the two of them to share it.

Especially with the north wind blowing, the rain drifted in.

Knowing that she was frail, Li Heng tilted the umbrella slightly towards her.

Zhou Shihe glanced at the umbrella, then at him, and after a moment of contemplation said, "There's no need to take special care of me. I'll just take a hot shower when I get back."

"Final exams are coming up soon, so don't be shy. I exercise every day and I'm in great shape. Getting a little rained on won't hurt me," Li Heng said.

Hearing this, she didn't say anything more, but simply moved closer to him understandingly.

The night was dark and rainy, and the space under the umbrella felt cramped. He could smell the faint scent of a woman and feel the flutter in his heart from the occasional friction of their arms. At one moment, Li Heng, who was moved, reached out his right hand over her soft back as if possessed, wanting to hug her waist.

But just as his right hand reached out and touched her waist and abdomen, he came to his senses.

He thought to himself: What the hell am I doing?
then!

Then, he silently withdrew his right hand.

I secretly hoped that her attention wasn't on this, and that she hadn't noticed it.

Zhou Shihe had taken in everything that had just happened, as if a hand was still lingering on her right waist. She pouted her lips tightly, her right hand gripping the opening of her trouser pocket, the veins on her hand bulging, clearly indicating that she was exerting considerable force.

But after a short while, her right hand relaxed.

She lowered her head, remaining silent, offering no hints or warnings, and quietly followed him into the bluestone alley of Lushan Village.

In the latter half, the two barely spoke, only the sound of rain pattering against the eaves and corners of the house, making a crisp, tinkling sound.

Time dragged on, and finally we reached the end of the alley.

The moment the two appeared, he froze. Guess who he saw?
Surprisingly, I saw Zhou Shihe's aunt standing guard at the entrance of building number 27 with an umbrella.

Li Heng was stunned. Zhou's aunt was also stunned, staring blankly at her niece and Li Heng who were sharing an umbrella.

Seeing her aunt staring intently at her, Zhou Shihe remained calm and composed, and softly said, "Aunt."

"Hey, you're back." The aunt realized what was happening and quickly responded.

Zhou Shihe took out her keys from her pocket, ready to open the door, without any intention of explaining.

A few breaths later, the door opened, and the three of them went inside.

When they reached the door, Li Heng gave his aunt a forced smile, then said to Zhou Shihe, "Comrade Shihe, I'll be going now."

Zhou Shihe turned to the side and asked, "Your clothes are all wet, aren't you going to take a shower and change?"

Li Heng looked around and said, "That works too."

With that, he turned and strode quickly toward his home.

Once inside, the aunt finally couldn't help but ask, "Shihe, what about you and Li Heng?"

If my memory serves me right, Li Heng's girlfriend is Xiao Han, and he's also having an ambiguous relationship with Mai Sui. Now?

Now, I wonder if my niece, who has always been so arrogant, has gotten together with him?
My aunt looked completely bewildered.

Zhou Shihe calmly said, "Tonight is the school's New Year's Eve party. He and I are performing. I didn't bring an umbrella, so he walked me back. He's going to Maisui later."

Hearing this, the aunt felt a little relieved and asked, "It's so late, I understand he brought you back, but why are you sharing an umbrella?"

Zhou Shihe said cheerfully, "This umbrella was borrowed."

She knew a principle well: some things become more unclear the more you explain them, so it's better to use a subtle approach and avoid saying too much.

As Zhou Shihe had predicted, the short sentence had a great effect, and her aunt's doubts were greatly reduced: "Wheat is the host of the party that night?"

Zhou Shihe said yes.

The aunt asked again, "Did Li Heng and Xiao Han break up?"

Zhou Shihe said, "No."

My sister-in-law's gossipy nature was piqued: "So, his two-timing hasn't been exposed yet?"

Zhou Shihe took off her coat and hung it in the corner of the room: "He's in a high position and he's not married, so everyone is quite tolerant of him."

The aunt pondered for a moment, then nodded: "That's true. Since ancient times, scholars have been full of emotions. It's normal for someone of his status to have two confidantes."

The aunt's final question was: "He's so affectionate, but has he ever been affectionate towards you? Between you and him?"

Zhou Shihe said gently, "I have no connection with him, I know my limits, and he wouldn't dare to mess with me."

Surprisingly, my aunt completely believed what she said.

In the aunt's opinion: Over the years, Shihe has always been indifferent to boys. Even if Li Heng is outstanding, his love life is messy, and her niece may not be interested.

Besides, given my niece's temperament, even if Li Heng dares to touch her, we should be prepared to sacrifice Xiao Han and Mai Sui.

My niece will never tolerate him having multiple relationships at the same time.

Would Li Heng sacrifice Xiao Han and Mai Sui? The aunt recalled Xiao Han and Mai Sui's beautiful appearance and secretly shook her head. No.

The reason is simple: even if Li Heng abandons Xiao Han and Mai Sui, he may not be able to catch up with his niece. This is an asymmetrical deal from the start.

The aunt thought Li Heng wasn't that stupid.

Zhou Shihe found three umbrellas and said to her aunt, "Wait for me, I'll give these umbrellas to him."

My aunt asked, "Is it for Mai Sui and Manning?"

Zhou Shihe nodded, went out, and headed next door.

When Li Heng came out of the shower, he noticed a note on the coffee table that read: There are 3 umbrellas on the sofa downstairs. Please take them to Sui Sui and the others.

Wow, I was just worried about not having enough umbrellas when I took a shower, and Zhou Dawang brought them over. What a thoughtful girl!

After his round trip, including a shower in between, by the time he returned to Xianghui Hall, the party was already in its second half.

As soon as he sat down, Huang Ziyue from the back row brazenly ran over and sat next to him, drawing stares from those around them.

Previously, I had only heard that the most beautiful flower of this year's freshmen had taken a liking to senior Li Heng, but now, Huang Ziyue has confirmed it with her actions.

At some point, Principal Sun, who was in the middle of the hall, noticed his beloved granddaughter. He turned his head to look at her, then looked again, his brows furrowed.

Judging from this, was Ziyi the one who actively pursued him?

Principal Sun doesn't just oppose his granddaughter pursuing Li Heng; he strongly opposes it!

Is Li Heng so easy to win over?
Even if you manage to win her over, can you keep her?
What if Ziyue gives herself to that playboy and then just walks away, denying everything?

Furthermore, Principal Sun did not believe that his granddaughter had the ability to snatch someone away from the Yu family's daughter.

He thought this junior would cling to him like a leech, but he was wrong. She sat there properly and didn't say a word to him for the entire second half of the game.

Huang Ziyue didn't respond, at least not tonight. Her four notes were all in vain, and her senior didn't reply to a single one.

The reason she sat with Li Heng was to spite Mai Sui on stage. She had lost to the hosts twice and was very frustrated. So she wanted to make things difficult for Mai Sui.

However, Huang Ziyue's trick was a complete waste and had no effect whatsoever.

Mai Sui doesn't care much about Xiao Han and Teacher Yu, so why would she pay attention to this young girl? Unless Huang Ziyue can become Song Yu, she won't be able to make her hesitate to act against her.

Or if she were to become Chen Zijin, she would also try to avoid it.

After all, she and Chen Zijing were very good friends during their first and second years of high school. They ate, went to class, played, and slept together every day. Moreover, Chen Zijing was her first love, so she also felt guilty.

The party ended amidst a wave of reluctance and applause. Ignoring the presence of outsiders, Li Heng grabbed an umbrella and headed straight backstage to pick up Mai Sui.

Normally, after each party, the student council members would get together, but He Xiao and the others didn't call for Mai Sui, knowing that it would be pointless to do so.

Mai Sui doesn't like these kinds of gatherings, and Li Heng probably doesn't either, so He Xiao simply doesn't bring it up, lest the other person feel awkward refusing.

Mai asked, "You only brought three umbrellas?"

Li Heng blinked.

Mai asked, "You gave two to Manning and Ningning?"

Li Heng blinked.

Mai Sui asked again, "How did you and Shi He get back?"

Li Heng said, "I borrowed an umbrella from Comrade Wei Xiaozhu."

From a distance, Mai Sui saw Li Heng borrowing an umbrella from Xiao Zhu, but she couldn't tell how many there were because there were too many people to see clearly. However, she didn't correct him, but instead asked, "Don't you have umbrellas at home? Why didn't you bring an extra one?"

Once they were in a secluded spot, Li Heng grabbed her hand and said, "I just wanted to share an umbrella with you, do you still want to ask?"

Mai Sui smiled sweetly, shyly avoiding his eyes.

She was helpless. She wanted to keep some distance from him in public, but the man simply wouldn't cooperate.

Back in Lushan Village, he said, "Aunt Shihe is here. Why don't you come to my place?"

Mai Sui seemed to know about this and followed him to building number 26.

That evening, Li Heng was revising his manuscript in his study, going through Chapter 20, "The Book," for the third time. Mai Sui, meanwhile, was reviewing her lessons nearby, preparing for her final exams.

It was almost midnight when he let out a sigh of relief, finally finished. He put down his pen, stretched, and said, "There's still more than two weeks until winter break. How's your revision going?"

Mai Sui asked anxiously for him, "I'm almost done. When are you going to speed things up?"

Li Heng waved his hand: "Don't worry about me. I usually study very hard. Starting tomorrow, I will temporarily slow down my writing and go to the library with you guys more often."

Maisui said, "Okay, I'll save you a spot."

At this point, the two looked at each other, silently.

In a flash, Li Heng stood up, came to her side, bent down, picked her up in his arms, and carried her to the second bedroom.

Mai Sui knew this would happen. After so long, she didn't believe this man could stay calm tonight.

About two hours later, the two remained motionless, forehead to forehead, embracing each other at close range, letting the inertia break the silence of the night. After a long while, Li Heng lowered his head and took her lips in his, giving her a tender, gentle kiss.

Mai Sui nestled in his arms, closed her eyes, tilted her head back slightly, and opened and closed her red lips, enjoying the afterglow of their romance together.

She thoroughly enjoyed this final moment; it was warm and blissful, regardless of what the past or the future held. At this moment, this man belonged solely to her.

This made her feel especially content.

More than 10 minutes later, the two lips, almost suffocating, reluctantly parted. Li Heng asked earnestly, "When are you moving back? I want to see you every time I wake up."

Mai Sui slowly reached out her right hand, lovingly stroked his cheek, and said softly, "Wait until we come back after the New Year, okay?"

This time she finally gave a clear answer.

Because she saw an intense longing in his eyes.

She was moved and didn't want to torture the person she loved anymore.

Li Heng kissed her on the corner of her lips, overjoyed.

After a few more hugs, Mai Sui got up and went to the shower to take a shower and do laundry.

While washing the pants, she wondered: Didn't he ask Xiao Han for them when he went to the medical university last time? How did he accumulate so many?

No wonder he was so crazy and passionate tonight; he must have been suffering for a long time.

After showering, the two changed the sheets, then lay back down on the bed, embracing and talking intimately until they fell asleep late at night.

The next day, just after 6 a.m.

Li Heng then woke up.

Mai Sui struggled to open her eyes: "Going for morning exercise?"

As Li Heng put on his clothes, he asked, "Want to go for a run together? Wei Xiaozhu and Dai Qing are here too."

Wheat said lazily, "No, I'll take a nap."

She didn't know when it started, but she and Zhou Shihe fell in love with yoga. The two women used yoga as a substitute for exercise to maintain their figures.

However, the weather was not cooperating. When he opened the door, he found that it was snowing outside, and the roof was covered with a thick layer of snow.

Li Heng ran back excitedly and shouted, "Maisui, it's snowing!"

The wheat ear peeked half its head out from under the covers and let out a long "oh".

Li Heng pinched her cheek with his finger: "Aren't you going to come see the snow? It's so thick."

Wheat closed her long eyelashes and said weakly, "I won't look. It won't melt away all at once. There will be plenty of opportunities to look later. You can't run anymore. Why don't you come in and sleep with me for a while?"

The interaction between the two last night was so perfect that it left an indelible impression on Mai Sui, to the point that she now misses his embrace a little.

Li Heng leaned down and whispered in her ear, "If I go to bed, we probably won't be able to get up for several hours this morning."

Maisui felt her face flush.

She was no longer a naive little girl and naturally understood what he was saying. She immediately turned over and said, "Then go buy breakfast, I'll sleep a little longer."

Li Heng asked, "So you just want to sleep?"

Maisui blinked and said, "Yes."

Li Heng said, "I was thinking of taking you to a noodle shop for breakfast."

Upon hearing this, Mai Sui remained silent for a long while before finally whispering, "Then let me sleep for another half hour."

"Hey, okay."

He smiled as he looked at her back, never imagining that Mai Sui would also have a day when she so strongly wanted to sleep in.

But thinking about her time at Fangmalanshan last night, she must have been really tired.

This woman, overflowing with inner charm, is a treasure! Every moment was full of surprises, and with her, he experienced a different kind of joy—a joy he couldn't find anywhere else.

Yu Shuheng is back.

He had just entered his study and read some documents for about ten minutes when Professor Yu called him from downstairs.

Li Heng put down his book and quickly ran downstairs. When he opened the door, he saw Teacher Yu covered in snow.

Their eyes met through the door, and Yu Shuheng asked, "I haven't been home for the past two days, and we've run out of hot water. I'm a little thirsty. Do you have any hot water at home?"

"Yes, teacher, come in quickly." With that, Li Heng opened the door completely, then turned around to pour hot tea.

He asked, "Where did you come from?"

Yu Shuheng said, "Beijing."

Li Heng asked, "How is your senior brother doing?"

Yu Shuheng said, "Suyun's baby is safe, but your senior brother suffered a lot of injustice this time."

Li Heng raised an eyebrow: "Is Lao Liao the kind of person who can put up with being wronged?"

Yu Shuheng asked, "What's with that expression? Why are you so indignant?"

Li Heng said, "No, I would never be wronged in front of a big family like yours."

Yu Shuheng smiled slightly, understanding the hidden meaning in his words. She picked up her teacup, blew on it, and then eagerly took several small sips.

After taking four or five sips of tea, she looked into his eyes with her deep gaze and said softly, "Little boy, don't worry, your teacher won't let you suffer. I wouldn't bear to. No one else would."

Before he could reply, she asked again, "Did Mai Sui sleep here last night?"

Li Heng blurted out, "How did the teacher know? That's amazing!"

Yu Shuheng glanced at him sideways, then lowered her head to continue drinking her tea. After a while, she said meaningfully, "There are two pairs of underwear hanging on the balcony, one for a man and one for a woman. That must be your doing last night."

Li Heng: "..."

He argued, "It was a few days ago."

Yu Shuheng glanced at him with a half-smile: "Dry clothes don't freeze, but these did. Why don't you go and take a look in the alley yourself?"

Li Heng was speechless, thinking to himself, "Why is this woman being so direct today?"

I can't take it anymore.

Just then, very light footsteps came from the stairs; someone was coming down.

Yu Shuheng was afraid that Mai Sui would be shy, so she got up and left, leaving the two of them alone.

As for why she wasn't jealous, it was because she understood very well that Li Heng and Mai Sui hadn't even crossed the final barrier yet, and she had already grasped the cause-and-effect knot in Mai Sui's heart.

Furthermore, even if she were to pursue other women outside, it would be better to waste her time with Mai Sui; at least she would feel at ease.

Yu Shuheng is currently worried about Huang Zhaoyi's pregnancy.

What does it mean when a woman is pregnant?
This signifies complete takeover.

The representatives have gained the initiative.

This young man will not graduate for another two years, so Huang Zhaoyi has no competitors in this regard for the time being.

With the Huang family's influence, the situation has been full of uncertainties over the past two years.

P.S.: Will this result in a 404 error? I'll update this first and then revise it.

11,000 words have been updated.

(End of this chapter)