Chapter 47: When Enemies Meet, Resentment Burns Brighter

After a brief mutual introduction, Wang Runwen led Chen Xiaomi up to the third floor to her own home.

She didn’t make a big deal of it because Li Heng had advised her to keep things low-key.

Pouring a cup of tea for her guest, Wang Runwen said, “Shi’er Yue is in class right now. Have a seat, and I’ll go call him over.”

“All right, thank you,” Chen Xiaomi replied.

In class? Could he really be a teacher?

Chen Xiaomi had initially wanted to follow, but seeing Wang Runwen swiftly and decisively leave the room, she let go of the idea.

She had met many writers before, but this time, she felt more nervous than ever, gripping her cup tightly as she imagined the upcoming encounter.

She realized that she cared too much—unconsciously becoming attached.

Yet, even so, she couldn’t control herself.

***

Meanwhile, under the watchful eyes of the entire class, Li Heng stepped out of the classroom and asked, “Teacher, who’s looking for me?”

Wang Runwen glanced at the students in the classroom, then turned towards the stairwell. “Go downstairs first. We’ll talk in a moment.”

Li Heng understood the implication immediately—it should be an editor from a magazine, but he didn’t know who exactly.

Descending from the third floor to the first-floor playground, where no one was around, Wang Runwen said, “The editor from People’s Literature, Chen Xiaomi, has arrived.”

Oh, so this woman came first?

Li Heng’s thoughts shifted, and he asked, “Teacher, did you tell her anything about me?”

The English teacher shook her head. “She didn’t ask, so I didn’t bother mentioning anything. I guess she wants to speak with you face to face.”

That was for the best—not having said anything.

Li Heng said, “Teacher, can I ask you for a favor? When we go inside, just ignore me. Don’t introduce me or talk to me.”

At the stairwell on the first floor, the English teacher stopped and turned, “What’s that supposed to mean? Burning bridges after crossing? Don’t want me around?”

Li Heng rolled his eyes and met her gaze. “Her name is Chen Xiaomi. Family name Chen, from Shaoyang.”

Wang Runwen raised her eyelids, instantly catching on. “She looks somewhat like Chen Ziqin. I was wondering earlier—so she’s related to the Chen family?”

Li Heng nodded. “Yes, but the key point is that I have a grudge against her.”

Wang Runwen parted her sensual red lips slightly. “What a coincidence.”

Li Heng nodded again.

Crossing her arms, Wang Runwen grew intrigued. “Why the grudge? She seems like a refined lady, not hard to get along with. Did you sleep with Chen Ziqin?”

Damn it!

How did she guess so accurately?

Li Heng was annoyed but couldn’t admit it. “All these nonsense rumors... Teacher, you should lose some weight. I’m still young, and you shouldn’t accuse me recklessly.”

Upon hearing this, Wang Runwen, like a startled leopard, narrowed her eyes and radiated an aura as dangerous as a funeral pyre—extremely threatening.

Li Heng hurriedly whispered a reminder, “Teacher, people can see this place from both teaching buildings opposite. There are many in the corridor. Please don’t get angry. Hold it in.”

Wang Runwen laughed bitterly, flicked her hair, and ground her teeth. “Keep your eyes to yourself. If I catch you spying again disrespectfully, I’ll ruin those eyes!”

***

“Teacher, you’re confused! You’re so attractive, so tempting. There are plenty of people sneaking looks at school. I’m the most well-behaved one, and you want to ruin the purest and most honest?”

Li Heng instinctively stepped back, then bypassed her and headed upstairs.

“Wait.”

Wang Runwen called out from behind, pulling a key from her pocket and handing it to him. “Since you have a grudge, settle it first. The people from Harvest magazine should be arriving soon. I’ll check the school gate.”

The school gate was noisy—another fight seemed to be happening. Li Heng nodded, took the key, and went up to the third floor.

Room number four on the third floor.

When the sound of keys rattling at the door reached her, Chen Xiaomi, who had been lost in thought on the sofa, immediately reacted.

She set down her tea cup and politely stood, looking toward the door with curiosity and anticipation.

The lock seemed stubborn, resisting Li Heng’s attempts as he turned the key multiple times before finally opening.

This old lock was probably due for replacement.

Li Heng muttered to himself and pushed the door open slowly.

The moment the door swung open, a blinding burst of sunlight flooded in.

Then, a silhouette appeared in the strong light.

Seeing the figure, Chen Xiaomi’s pupils constricted sharply. Confusion and disbelief filled her eyes.

How small the world was.

Why was he here?

Her mind went blank, even wondering: How the hell does this little bastard have a school teacher’s house key?

Could it be that after Ziqin left for the capital, feeling lonely, she got involved with the school’s female teacher?

No wonder her imagination ran wild.

Although she despised Li Heng, judging his character as rotten, she couldn’t deny that despite her wide experience and countless men, his looks, inherited from his mother, were excellent.

If he could seduce the obedient Ziqin from childhood, what was so strange about him tempting a passionate female teacher?

Her anger stemmed mainly from the summer vacation last year, when she saw a scene she shouldn’t have: Li Heng and Ziqin, barely clothed, their thin summer blanket discarded amid their passionate embrace.

That scene and the overwhelming impression left a huge shock on Chen Xiaomi, shattering her worldview.

They say enemies meet with eyes burning red.

After a moment of tense eye contact, Chen Xiaomi’s previous curiosity, enthusiasm, and expectation vanished.

Instead, a cold gaze of indifference took their place.

For a fleeting instant, she even suspected Li Heng might be the writer “Shi’er Yue.”

But that thought was immediately dismissed.

What a ridiculous international joke!

He was only seventeen, not even eighteen yet. If he could write a masterpiece like “To Live,” filled with life and death, then what were the other writers?

What was she?

***

She would be a joke.

The whole world would have to overturn its understanding.

With that thought, Chen Xiaomi removed the last trace of confusion and lightly sat back on the sofa.

She said nothing, staring ahead, her peripheral vision coldly tracking his every move.

Since this woman remained silent, Li Heng wouldn’t speak either.

After all, she had heard his voice on the phone a few days ago. Speaking now would mean revealing himself.

He had barely managed to lure her from the capital, and not yet had his fun. At least he wanted to vent first.

Having lived two lives, he originally thought he could forget all these grudges and humiliations.

But when it all replayed, and past and present humiliations flooded his mind, he realized: a grudge is a grudge—it would not fade with time.

So now that he had been reborn, back to his youth, what the hell was there to worry about?

One word: don’t chicken out. Just do it. Do what a young man should—return kindness with kindness, repay enmity with enmity!

Seeing her, Li Heng pretended to hesitate outside the door, looked around carefully to confirm he wasn’t wrong, then stepped back inside.

With a loud bang, he slammed the door shut.

The sudden noise made Chen Xiaomi’s head buzz.

But she steadied herself, unmoving, still gathering every one of his actions with her eyes.

Entering the room, Li Heng first placed the key on the tea table, then, as if at home, poured a cup of hot water, adding a pinch of tea leaves.

Next, he went to the bathroom to relieve himself with a long, loud stream that even faintly echoed in the living room.

Chen Xiaomi furrowed her brows, then furrowed them again, thinking to herself that she had indeed judged correctly: this Li fellow was no good.

Having only been apart from Ziqin for a little over half a year, he was already entangled with another woman so heatedly.

She had to suspect as much.

His actions were too casual, too familiar, too much as if he had rehearsed this a thousand times.

Coming out of the bathroom, Li Heng dried his wet hands, then switched on the TV, sipping tea slowly, sitting on the sofa and eating apples from the coffee table.

To provoke her, Li Heng deliberately sat on the same sofa, very close.

Chen Xiaomi instinctively wanted to move to the single sofa beside him.

But then she thought: why should I give way to this brat? That would mean I’m afraid of him.

Suppressing her irritation, she sat down and watched him bite into the apple with big, loud bites.

Chen Xiaomi swallowed hard, suddenly realizing that the hunger she had been suppressing instantly magnified into a gnawing hunger.

“Gurgle gurgle…”

Suddenly, a strange sound came from the living room.

Chen Xiaomi frowned tightly, realizing she could hold back, but her starving stomach was protesting—her resolve was breaking.

Li Heng turned just in time, eyeing her up and down before moving over to the single sofa.

The expression on his face was full of disdain—utterly disgusted, as if she had offended his grandmother.

That bastard really thought I was farting? Chen Xiaomi thought, a little crazed.

***

5400 words. Not great. Please vote for me at the start of the month!