Chapter 107

On the way home, Li Luo and Ying Chanxi sat in the back seat, while Ying Zhicheng drove with the window rolled down, letting the wind blow in.

He didn't ask how they felt about their midterms, only casually inquired about trivial school matters.

How was the teacher? Was the club fun? Was the cafeteria food good?

And how were they adjusting to living at Bihai Lanting?

"I've heard some news," Ying Zhicheng said. "The subway plan for Yinjiang District will likely be finalized by the end of this year, or after Lunar New Year."

"I'm thinking of buying a place along the route—partly as an investment, partly to keep for you later."

Saying this, Ying Zhicheng looked at Ying Chanxi. "Do you want it near Fuyi High School and Qianjiang University, or closer to the South Station?"

The meaning behind his words was simple enough.

He was asking whether Ying Chanxi wanted to move out of Bihai Lanting.

But clearly, Ying Chanxi had no such idea—she simply shook her head. "You decide, Dad. I don't understand these things."

After that, Ying Chanxi pulled out the parent-teacher meeting notice from her backpack and handed it to Ying Zhicheng in the front passenger seat. "There's a parent-teacher meeting next Saturday. Check if your company's busy."

"Next Saturday?" Ying Zhicheng frowned, studying the notice carefully. "Xiao Lu, what's on my schedule next Saturday?"

The driver immediately replied, "Boss Ying, you're traveling to Changning City on Friday for two days—you won't be back until Sunday."

"Oh right, the film rights thing." Ying Zhicheng tapped his forehead, feeling a headache coming on.

In the back, Ying Chanxi shrugged. "It's fine. Go ahead and take care of your business—just tell the teacher in advance."

"Guess that's the only option," Ying Zhicheng said helplessly.

Back at Jincheng Community, the three of them went up to the fourth floor.

Ying Chanxi and Ying Zhicheng first put their belongings away at home, then went to Room 401.

Lin Xiuhong and the others were still busy in the kitchen; when Li Guohong heard the noise at the door, he poked his head out and called, "Sit on the sofa for a bit—the food's almost ready."

"I brought a good bottle of liquor," Ying Zhicheng said cheerfully, placing a bottle of baijiu on the dining table.

Ying Chanxi saw the liquor in her father's hand and immediately frowned, muttering under her breath: "Drinking again."

"They've always been like this," Li Luo glanced at Ying Chanxi. "You still aren't used to it?"

"I can't control Dad and Uncle," Ying Chanxi fixed her gaze on Li Luo, warning him. "You're not allowed to drink."

"You can't control them, but you think you can control me?"

"Hmph. If you sneak a drink, I'll tell Lin Yi."

"Childish. That's all you've got."

Soon after, the dishes were all served.

Once the five of them sat down, Li Guohong and Ying Zhicheng exchanged drinks; Lin Xiuhong turned to Li Luo and asked eagerly: "How did you do on the exam?"

"At least better than last time," Li Luo replied cautiously. "I might make it into the top hundred."

"Oh?" Ying Zhicheng looked surprised. "Top hundred including the key classes?"

"Yes," Li Luo nodded calmly.

"Really?" Lin Xiuhong didn't believe it. "You ranked 86th district-wide in the high school entrance exam—if you count the 160 students admitted through early enrollment, you're only around 200-something, right?"

"Mom, I suggest you stop underestimating your son," Li Luo advised kindly. "A man changes in three days—you should look at him anew. Why would I lie to you?"

"Li Luo is really good," Ying Chanxi added. "Xu Youyu and I tutored him before the exam—he's improved a lot."

"Ah, that explains it," Lin Xiuhong nodded in understanding. "Someone tutored you—I forgot."

Li Luo: "..."

So you believe everything Ying Chanxi says?

"The Xu Youyu you mentioned—is that the girl you share an apartment with?" Ying Zhicheng asked curiously.

"Yes," Ying Chanxi nodded. "Her name is Xu Youyu. She's in Gao Er, and she's the student council president—the top student in her grade."

"Wow! Xu Youyu's that good?" Lin Xiuhong was surprised, then turned to Li Luo. "No wonder you're so confident—two top students tutoring you? If you still don't improve, you'd be utterly humiliated."

Li Luo stared blankly, too tired to argue—by next Saturday's parent-teacher meeting, the results would speak for themselves.

So he pulled the parent-teacher meeting notice from his backpack and handed it to his mother. "Next Saturday's parent-teacher meeting—come. Let you enjoy some praise from the homeroom teacher."

"Alright," Lin Xiuhong nodded, taking the notice naturally.

Beside her, Li Guohong stole a glance, tempted—but knew he couldn't outmaneuver his wife. He opened his mouth, then closed it without speaking.

He wanted to go—after all, his son was finally shining. He'd love to sit in on Fuyi High's parent-teacher meeting.

But Lin Xiuhong was first in line at home; Li Guohong could only reluctantly yield.

After discussing the midterm exams, Lin Xiuhong and Li Guohong didn't ask anything else.

Li Luo's novel-writing, as previously agreed, was not to be mentioned publicly—so with Ying Zhicheng and Ying Chanxi present, the couple kept quiet.

The conversation at the table quickly shifted from school exams and parent-teacher meetings to finance, the stock market, policy, and international affairs.

It eventually settled on recent policy changes in Yuhang City and the subway construction in Yinjiang District.

Upon hearing Ying Zhicheng's news about the subway plan, Li Guohong and Lin Xiuhong both lit up with joy.

Clearly, their decision to reject Wei Dongrong's real estate investment and instead buy the apartment at Bihai Lanting had been a brilliant one.

Especially now that Li Luo's novel-writing brought in substantial income—their mortgage burden vanished, making the couple even happier.

Add to that Li Luo's status as a student at Fuyi High—if he worked hard, he might even get into Qianjiang University.

In just a few months, looking back, Li Guohong and Lin Xiuhong suddenly realized their family had turned around completely.

The future looked dazzling with stars.

And all of this probably began with Li Luo's unexpectedly outstanding performance on the high school entrance exam.

It's a pity I can't make it to Xixi's parent-teacher meeting next week—Zhou?

Li Guohong paused, then laughed. "Really? You're serious? If you say that, I'm taking you at your word."

Why not? Ying Zhicheng took another sip of liquor. Just say you're Xixi's uncle.

"I don't think that works." Lin Xiuhong shook her head from the side.

"Why not?" Li Guohong immediately protested. "You can go to Li Luo's parent-teacher meeting, but I can't go to Xixi's?"

"What I mean is," Lin Xiuhong said with a beaming smile, "I'll go to Xixi's parent-teacher meeting, and you go to Li Luo's."

"Why should I?!" Li Guohong's eyes went wide, instantly unhappy. "How could Li Luo's parent-teacher meeting possibly be better than Xixi's?"

"You're trying to steal her from me?" Lin Xiuhong narrowed her eyes at him. "Xixi is mine."

Li Guohong had drunk quite a lot, but at least he wasn't drunk yet. The moment Lin Xiuhong fixed him with those narrowed eyes, he shut up on the spot, and could only mutter softly in the end: "So unreasonable."

"You two are being ridiculous." Li Luo said with a thoroughly exasperated expression. "Who ever heard of someone else going to a parent-teacher meeting in place of the parents?"

The moment those words left his mouth, Li Luo's foot was immediately stomped on hard.

He looked over in astonishment at Ying Chanxi beside him, and then heard her say in a soft, gentle voice: "If Uncle and Auntie could go to the parent-teacher meeting in place of my dad, then that would be just perfect."