Chapter 148

On Friday evening, after the second period of self-study ended.

Li Luo finished all his weekend homework, packed his bag, and stood up from his seat.

This time, he didn't wait for Ying Chanxi to come downstairs to find him to go home together; after confirming there was nothing else he needed to take home, he left his bag in the classroom and walked straight upstairs.

Li Luo arrived at the door of Class One, glanced inside, and saw Ying Chanxi sitting neatly at her desk; when she saw him approach, she waved her small hand at him.

"Then let's go."

Li Luo walked over to her desk and helped Ying Chanxi stand up.

Under everyone's watchful eyes, the two of them left her seat and slowly walked out of the classroom.

Since everyone knew Li Luo was Ying Chanxi's cousin, no one found it strange.

But when Li Luo and Ying Chanxi reached the stairwell, Ying Chanxi stopped and whispered, "My knees hurt from walking too much."

Li Luo glanced at her, sighed, squatted down in front of her, and extended his hands toward her back: "Hurry up, don't dawdle."

Ying Chanxi didn't dawdle at all; as soon as she saw Li Luo squat down, her knees stopped hurting, and she launched herself forward, wrapping her arms tightly around his neck.

Li Luo naturally lifted her thighs, and to save effort, shifted his grip slightly higher.

Ying Chanxi, perched on his back, felt the warmth from Li Luo's palms and blushed slightly, but said nothing to correct him—she simply accepted his actions, whispering softly in his ear: "Be careful going down the stairs, take it slow, don't fall."

"I know, don't move around."

Li Luo felt the small, delicate weight on his back and the soft texture beneath his hands, and a faint ripple stirred in his heart.

But he quickly adjusted his mindset, took a deep breath, and stepped down one by one from the fourth floor to the first.

Fortunately, he'd been training his stamina daily with Yan Zhusheng lately; otherwise, after just running 3000 meters that afternoon, carrying a full-grown person downstairs now would've left him trembling.

After reaching Houde Road, Li Luo and Ying Chanxi met Xu Youyu, who had been waiting for them.

Seeing Li Luo carrying Ying Chanxi on his back, Xu Youyu blinked, looked at the cane in his hand, and fell into deep thought.

Li Luo was also momentarily stunned, staring at the cane Xu Youyu held, and asked: "Where did you get that cane?"

"A senior from Gao San injured herself a while back and used this cane to come to school; her leg just healed, and she left the cane in the classroom instead of taking it home," Xu Youyu explained. "She used to be in the Literature Club and was close to me, so I borrowed it from her—perfect for Chanxi to use."

Hearing this, Ying Chanxi immediately felt embarrassed.

She'd wanted to stay on Li Luo's back a little longer.

But Xu Youyu had gone to such lengths—refusing the cane now would seem ungrateful.

But Li Luo smiled, shifted Ying Chanxi slightly on his back to lift her higher, then said: "Just hold onto the cane for now. When I get tired of carrying you, you can use it."

"Alright," Xu Youyu nodded, picking up the cane and walking beside them.

Ying Chanxi felt a surge of joy, forced her lips into a small smile, tightened her grip around Li Luo's neck, and buried her face in the crook of his shoulder.

From Houde Road to the school gate, from the school gate to the entrance of Bihai Lanting, Li Luo carried her all the way into the elevator before finally putting her down.

Taking the cane from Xu Youyu and testing it, Ying Chanxi hobbled out of the elevator, carefully walking back to Apartment 1502.

Having safely brought the injured Ying Chanxi home, Li Luo completed his task and headed straight to his bedroom to shower and start writing.

Xu Youyu, grinning, took Ying Chanxi by the hand, told her to bring her change of clothes and pajamas, and pulled her into the bathroom: "Chanxi, let me wash you today~"

After his shower, Li Luo began writing again. When he took a break to grab a small pudding, he passed the bathroom and heard faint, peculiar sounds coming from inside.

"S-Senior… you've been touching for so long, you don't need to rub it that long…"

"Didn't you ask why I'm so big? Rubbing more will fix it."

"Really?"

"Of course not, you actually believed me? Chanxi, you're just too cute, haha~"

Hearing this conversation, Li Luo's mind instantly conjured up some delightful images.

Not daring to linger by the bathroom door, Li Luo hurried to the kitchen, grabbed the pudding, and rushed back to his bedroom.

After more than an hour of fussing, Ying Chanxi and Xu Youyu finally emerged from the steamy bathroom, both with flushed cheeks, glowing skin, and vibrant complexions.

One walked out confidently, simply warmed by the steam; the other blushed deeply.

If not for her injured legs, Ying Chanxi would never dare bathe with Xu Youyu again.

"Chanxi, do you need any other help?" Xu Youyu asked warmly after stepping out of the bathroom.

Ying Chanxi quickly shook her head: "Thank you so much, Senior, you should get some rest too."

"Alright, be careful," Xu Youyu nodded and returned to her bedroom.

Ying Chanxi, leaning on her cane, waited until Xu Youyu went inside, then slowly walked to Li Luo's bedroom door, knocked, and pushed it open.

Seeing her enter, Li Luo immediately moved aside to let her sit, then helped dry her hair.

"Aren't you going to tell Uncle?" Li Luo asked as he blew her hair, "You're injured, you should at least let him know."

"It's fine," Ying Chanxi shook her head. "Dad's always busy, and it's not even a fracture—just rest and it'll be fine."

"Then stay home this weekend," Li Luo said. "After the sports day ends tomorrow, I'll bring you straight back here—no more going to Yan Zhusheng's house."

"Huh?" Ying Chanxi froze, then hurriedly asked, "What about you?"

"I have to record a song, so I have to go," Li Luo said. "Tell Qiao Xinyan you won't be coming this time—next time, okay?"

"But…" Ying Chanxi moved her lips, not expecting things to turn out this way, "I'm not that badly hurt—why can't we all go together tomorrow?"

"Listen to me," Li Luo patted her head. "Even if I don't tell your dad, I still have to inform my mom about your condition—otherwise, when she finds out later, she'll kill me."

"I'll go to Yan Zhusheng's house tomorrow afternoon to record, and I'll be back before evening."

"Once my mom hears about your situation, she'll definitely come over to cook for you—just stay home and wait."

Hearing Li Luo say all this—and bringing up Lin Xiuhong—Ying Chanxi pouted, then finally deflated, reluctantly nodding: "Fine."

"You can invite Qiao Xinyan over to our place tomorrow to keep you company," Li Luo added. "And ask her if she wants to stay for dinner."

"Got it."

After drying her hair, Ying Chanxi stood up gloomily, tossed the cane aside, and reached out: "Carry me back."

Li Luo: "... You were such a commanding monitor in class, but as soon as you get home, your true colors show."

"Who asked you to care? Hurry up."

Li Luo had no choice but to crouch down and carry her on his back.

Though the doors of their bedrooms were less than a meter apart, Li Luo still carried her back, placed Ying Chanxi on the bed, and then brought her crutch over.

"If you need to use the bathroom tonight, be careful."

"Okay."

"Then go to sleep early." Li Luo stepped out of Ying Chanxi's bedroom. "Good night."

"Mmm... good night."

Ying Chanxi lay on the bed, watching Li Luo close the door. She pursed her lips, pulled the Pikachu beside her pillow close, and punched its head several times with small fists.

Still not satisfied, she grumbled under her breath and shoved Pikachu between her thighs, squeezing it until it could barely breathe.

As if this somehow avenged her.

But then she recalled the moment she fell on the 100-meter final track that morning.

It was Yan Zhusheng who appeared beside her first.

It was Yan Zhusheng who picked her up, coldly shouted down the crowd surging forward, and carried her to the infirmary.

Zhusheng truly must see me as a real friend...

Including this Pikachu.

Thinking of this, Ying Chanxi involuntarily pursed her lips, pulled Pikachu out from under the covers, gently stroked its head a few times, and whispered a few apologies.

Then she hugged Pikachu tightly and fell into deep sleep.