Chapter 124: Xu Youyu

The rock society's performance ended圆满 with Li Luo and Yan Zhusheng singing in duet.

Yuan Wanqing squinted, her gaze fixed on Li Luo, who was pressed close to her daughter.

But Li Luo hadn't done anything—it was Yan Zhusheng who had pressed herself against him.

Especially during the latter half of the chorus climax, Li Luo had already shifted half a body's width away, handing the microphone entirely to Yan Zhusheng.

Yet Yan Zhusheng took the microphone off its stand and willingly offered it to Li Luo's lips.

Yuan Wanqing had no grounds to say more.

As for Ying Chanxi on the other side, her expression had returned to calm.

When the music ended and applause erupted around them, she smiled and clapped too; to outsiders, nothing seemed amiss.

"That was truly well-sung—glad there was another microphone," Xu Youyu sighed, then praised, "Li Luo's quick thinking was impressive—he didn't look flustered at all; what a cool-headed performer."

"Mm." Ying Chanxi nodded lightly, lost in thought.

"After this ends, remember to come have lunch together," Xu Youyu said, patting Ying Chanxi's shoulder with a smile. "My mom left right after the parent-teacher meeting to go home and cook—no need to trouble Li Luo's parents; just invite them over to my place later."

"Really?" Ying Chanxi paused. "I thought your sister's family lived in…"

"The faculty housing complex at Qianjiang University," Xu Youyu blinked. "We'll meet at the school gate, and I'll take you there."

"Alright, I'll let Uncle and Auntie know."

"Don't forget to invite Yan Zhusheng's mom too," Xu Youyu told her. "I'll go tell Li Luo."

Ying Chanxi nodded and walked straight toward Lin Xiuhong, showing no intention to go up to the second-floor activity room to find Li Luo.

…

Qianjiang University, College of Literature Office.

Professor Xu Rongsheng of the Literature Department leaned back in his office chair, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, reviewing his email.

He opened a letter from the Provincial Writers Association—an invitation to a symposium, inviting Professor Xu Rongsheng to attend and provide guidance at next February's symposium on promoting online literature, hosted by the provincial online writers association.

Xu Rongsheng raised an eyebrow; he held no strong opinion on online novels, as his primary research focused on modern and contemporary literature, though he could claim a faint connection to the genre's origins.

Moreover, as a member of the association's executive board, he was routinely invited first to all kinds of association symposiums.

Additionally, attendees of such invited symposiums received stipends, and all normal expenses during the event were covered by the association.

It was essentially a free trip.

But this symposium, organized by the newly established Provincial Online Writers Association, marked their first attempt to gather authors offline under official auspices.

It carried considerable significance.

The symposium was tentatively scheduled between February 6 and 9, totaling three and a half days.

They offered Xu Rongsheng a lecture fee of 5,000 per day, plus free accommodation and meals.

Frankly, Xu Rongsheng didn't consider himself a particularly renowned professor—he was merely a nominal member of the association.

In the past, when invited by the association, he sometimes received no stipend at all, only free lodging.

This Provincial Online Writers Association was surprisingly generous, offering him a 5,000-per-day stipend—unusually rare.

Unlike professors from finance or medical schools, who frequently attended commercial conferences, such a stipend level was uncommon for literature department professors.

So naturally, he was tempted.

Xu Rongsheng checked his schedule for the rest of the year—February was currently free.

The Lunar New Year was mid-February; from the 6th to the 9th… it would be perfect to relax and earn some extra cash.

With that in mind, Xu Rongsheng carefully worded his reply and emailed the Provincial Writers Association, confirming his participation in the February symposium.

At that moment, his phone rang.

Xu Rongsheng answered, hearing his wife say:

"Lao Xu, your daughter brought classmates home today, along with their parents."

"It was parent-teacher day, and Youyu rents elsewhere, so I thought I'd invite the parents over for lunch."

"Make sure you come home early for lunch."

Xu Rongsheng replied, then asked, "Which parents?"

"They seem to be all first-year students," his wife Cui Suling said. "Two kids live with her, and another girl she's become very close to recently—you and I have never met her."

"Got it," Xu Rongsheng nodded. "I'll head home as soon as I'm done."

After hanging up, Xu Rongsheng finished reading his emails, handled the tasks, checked the time, tidied his desk, picked up his coat, and walked toward the faculty housing complex.

…

On the other side, Li Luo's group had gathered at the school gate.

After finding Yuan Wanqing, Yan Zhusheng quietly walked to her mother's side, tugged her sleeve, and whispered in her ear:

"The cute one is Ying Chanxi, the one with big breasts is Xu Youyu, and that one is Li Luo."

"They're all my good friends."

Yan Zhusheng's introduction was blunt; Yuan Wanqing instantly remembered the two other girls and smiled as she greeted them.

Ying Chanxi and Xu Youyu responded politely.

Seeing everyone had arrived, Xu Youyu smiled and said, "Then Uncle and Auntie, follow me—my home is in Qianjiang University's faculty housing, just a few minutes' walk."

At this moment, Yan Zhusheng obediently walked beside Yuan Wanqing, bringing up the rear.

Ahead were Li Guohong and Lin Xiuhong, with Ying Chanxi walking beside Lin Xiuhong.

Li Luo walked beside Xu Youyu, heading toward Qianjiang University.

After hearing Xu Youyu's explanation, Li Guohong asked curiously, "Do your parents work at Qianjiang University?"

"Yes, my dad's a professor in the College of Literature," Xu Youyu nodded. "My mom's a librarian—she works at the school library, pretty relaxed."

This was one of the perks of being a professor's family—vacant, easy posts were always given priority to relatives.

"It's really a bother for your mom," Lin Xiuhong said with a sigh. "We were planning to buy groceries and cook at our place."

"Uncle and auntie, you're attending the Grade One parent meeting, so the visit time is longer," Xu Youyu explained. "My mom's Grade Two parent meeting ends earlier—we can go home early to cook, so we can eat right when we get back."

"Then next time, we'll invite your parents over for a meal."

"No problem."

The group crossed the intersection, turned north toward the riverside residential compound.

"Before going to your place, let's buy something," Li Luo stopped as they passed a fruit shop, walking straight inside. "You should bring something when visiting."

"Why are you being so formal?" Xu Youyu hurried in after him, laughing. "Let me pick—just buy something simple."

"You should bring something," Lin Xiuhong nodded. "Li Luo thought of this well. Buy more."

Following his memory, Li Luo selected some mangoes and pineapples, plus a small bag of green seedless grapes, and asked the fruit vendor to pack them.

Xu Youyu, who had originally intended to help pick the fruit, stared at what Li Luo had chosen and fell into thought.

"How do you know my parents like these?"

Her mother, Cui Suling, always loved mangoes and pineapples, while her father favored green seedless grapes because, once washed, they didn't require spitting out the skin—they were convenient.

"Huh?" Li Luo paused, feigning luck with a grin. "Maybe my taste is just similar to your parents'."

Then Li Luo asked the vendor, "How much?"

"Eighty yuan and forty fen."

"Round it down, boss."

"Alright, eighty."

"Mom!" Li Luo called to Lin Xiuhong. "Pay!"

"You little rascal," Lin Xiuhong rolled her eyes, stepped forward, pulled out a hundred-yuan note, and handed it to the vendor. "Didn't you bring any small change?"

"I did," Li Luo said innocently. "But why spend more than needed? I'm frugal."

"I can't tell if you're frugal, but your cheek is certainly thick," Lin Xiuhong chuckled as she watched Li Luo take the twenty-yuan change without blinking. "If you put this cleverness into your studies, you might actually improve."

"Isn't twenty-seventh in the whole school enough for you?"

"Ying Chanxi's always been first in grade—why don't you learn from her?"

"I'm afraid if I got first, she'd cry—ah!" Li Luo had barely finished when his foot was stepped on. "Mom, Ying Chanxi stepped on me!"

"I didn't see anything," Lin Xiuhong linked arms with Ying Chanxi and walked out of the fruit shop smiling. "Come on, 溪溪, let's go—ignore him."

After walking out with Lin Xiuhong, Ying Chanxi turned back, expressionless, and stuck out her pink little tongue at Li Luo, then quickly turned away as if nothing had happened.

"Feels like you're not even their real child," Xu Youyu chuckled beside him. "More like you were picked up from a trash bin."

"Don't laugh, senior. If it weren't for you being Grade Two and me Grade One, your top rank wouldn't last long."

"Heh," Xu Youyu replied, lightly stepping on his other foot, then catching up to Lin Xiuhong and Ying Chanxi ahead. "Grab the fruit."