Chapter 183

Hearing Ying Chanxi enter, Li Luo used his decades-long bachelor-speed to close the writing page and the editor's chat window, then turned around as if nothing had happened.

"Ring in the New Year? Yeah, we could do that."

Thinking this, Li Luo got up and walked out, passing Ying Chanxi, then arrived at Xu Youyu's door.

Seeing him about to knock, Ying Chanxi's face flickered with slight panic and she hurriedly stopped him: "Wait—"

But she was half a beat too late.

Li Luo had already knocked on Xu Youyu's door and called inside: "Senior, wanna come out and ring in the New Year together?"

"Huh?" Xu Youyu opened the door, peeked out at Li Luo, then asked with confusion, "Where's Xixi?"

"She's coming too."

"But she told me just before her shower that she was going straight to bed," Xu Youyu scratched her head, clearly puzzled. "I've already gotten into bed and was about to sleep."

As soon as they finished speaking, both turned to look at Ying Chanxi beside them.

Ying Chanxi waved her hands frantically and quickly explained: "I—I was a bit sleepy earlier, but after my shower I felt awake again, so I thought it'd be more fun to ring in the New Year together."

Li Luo and Xu Youyu didn't think much of it, nodded in understanding, and Xu Youyu stepped out of her bedroom.

The three of them went to the living room and began discussing.

"So how are we ringing in the New Year?" Li Luo asked. "Should I make something to eat?"

"We're out of groceries," Xu Youyu said. "The fridge's empty. Let's just go downstairs and buy some snacks—the supermarket probably hasn't closed yet."

"We could buy some fireworks," Ying Chanxi muttered softly.

"Do supermarkets sell fireworks?" Li Luo asked curiously.

"Yes," Ying Chanxi immediately nodded, looking very knowledgeable.

Fireworks have low sales year-round, so most supermarkets only stock them during the Spring Festival season.

Li Luo wasn't sure if any would be available during New Year's Eve.

But since Ying Chanxi said there were, he added it to the plan.

"Then what?" Li Luo asked. "We can go downstairs to play with fireworks at midnight, but it's only ten now—still hours away."

"Let's play cards," Xu Youyu suggested. "Buy two decks of poker, eat snacks, watch TV, and play Landlord."

Li Luo glanced at Ying Chanxi; seeing she had no objection, he nodded in agreement: "Then we buy snacks, fireworks, and poker."

"OK, let's go!"

Standing up from the sofa, Li Luo went straight to his room, grabbed a down jacket, slipped on cotton pants, and was ready to head downstairs.

But when Li Luo stepped out of his bedroom and saw the two girls on the sofa, still in their pajamas and already watching TV, he fell into deep thought.

"What's the meaning of this?"

"Younger brother, it's time to show your manly charm," Xu Youyu gave him a thumbs-up. "It's only two or three degrees outside today. Both me and Xixi have showered and changed into pajamas—changing clothes again would be such a hassle. You wouldn't make us go out and freeze, would you?"

"Go on," Ying Chanxi cheered Li Luo on, then pulled three hundred-yuan bills from her pajama pocket and shoved them into his hand. "Spend it. Keep the change as transportation and tip."

Li Luo: "..."

He clicked his tongue, shoved the bills hard into his pant pocket, turned, and walked to the door to put on his shoes.

Just as he opened the door, Ying Chanxi's voice came from behind.

"Don't rush off," Ying Chanxi ran up behind him, pulled him around, and draped a red scarf over his neck. "Now you won't be cold."

"So I should thank you, then?"

"No need," Ying Chanxi patted his shoulder. "Go on—remember to buy me potato chips, the..."

"Red braised and cucumber flavor. I know."

"And me!" Xu Youyu called from the other end of the sofa. "I want the..."

"Original flavor. I know," Li Luo waved his hand and stepped out the door. "I'll call you when I'm there—you can tell me what to buy on the spot."

Even without their past-life interactions, just these few months living under the same roof had given Li Luo a clear grasp of their preferences for food and snacks.

Stepping outside, the cold wind from the corridor window blew against him, and he tightened the scarf around his neck.

Good thing he had the scarf—otherwise, this late-night wind would've been biting.

Taking the elevator down to the first floor, Li Luo stepped out of the residential complex, reached the supermarket, pulled out his phone to call Ying Chanxi, and became a shopping machine.

After buying two large bags of snacks and fireworks, plus two boxes of playing cards, Li Luo paid—spending just over a hundred yuan.

In 2014, this money still went far—a hundred yuan could buy this much.

Li Luo estimated that in ten or twenty years, those two bags would cost at least two or three hundred.

Thinking this, Li Luo carried the bags out of the supermarket and noticed the neighboring fruit store was still open, so he went in and bought some fruit.

By the time he got home, both his palms ached from the plastic bags and were ice-cold.

At that moment, the two girls on the sofa had walked over to Li Luo.

Xu Youyu took the bags and carried them to the coffee table.

Ying Chanxi grabbed Li Luo's hand and led him straight into the bathroom.

"What are you doing?" Li Luo, confused, was pulled into the bathroom, not understanding her move.

But soon, Ying Chanxi took his hands and immersed them in hot water already prepared.

"Sss... huu..."

The water temperature was perfect—slightly too hot, but quickly tolerable against his icy palms.

Then came a wave of relief; his whole body involuntarily shivered twice, and his previously cold palms warmed instantly.

When he pulled his hands out, he still felt the tingling numbness from the sudden shift from cold to heat.

The next second, Ying Chanxi draped her Mao Jin over his hands and wiped them dry: "Better now?"

"Yeah," Li Luo nodded, and walked out of the bathroom with Ying Chanxi.

At this point, Xu Youyu was already happily munching her original-flavor potato chips.

Li Luo snatched it straight from her hand, grabbed a handful, and shoved it into his mouth.

"Hey hey hey!" Xu Youyu panicked, grabbing his arm and yanking it down, "You've got so many snacks—why are you fighting me over these? Let go!"

"I bought you three packs of plain flavor—aren't those enough?"

"That's not enough! These chips carry my luck—eat them and I'll win at cards." Xu Youyu snatched the chips back, hugging them to her chest, "You've stolen my luck away!"

"What nonsense." Li Luo pulled out the pack of cards he'd bought, opened the wrapper, shuffled them, then pulled the coffee table closer to the sofa and tapped the surface. "Come on, stop dawdling—let's begin."

"Wait a minute!" Xu Youyu leapt off the sofa and dashed into her bedroom.

Soon after, Li Luo and Ying Chanxi heard the sound of something heavy being dragged across the floor.

Li Luo got up and walked to Xu Youyu's bedroom door—his expression turned blank. "Where did you get a whole case of beer?"

"These are my treasures."

Xu Youyu dragged the beer case to the sofa, pulled out a can, popped it open, and gulped down a large swallow. "Ah~舒服~ Nothing beats beer with snacks and cards."

"Senior, drinking isn't very good, is it?" Ying Chanxi whispered.

"What's the harm? We're not at school." Xu Youyu waved her hand, then pulled out two more cans from the box. "Want one?"

Ying Chanxi instinctively shook her head.

But when she saw Li Luo, though clearly exasperated, still reach out to take one, she immediately stopped shaking her head and hesitantly reached out to accept the can.

"I'll just taste it."

"Take one sip—if you don't like it, don't drink more," Li Luo warned. "I bought drinks over there."

"Oh." Ying Chanxi nodded, then watched Li Luo pull the tab on the beer can, tilt his head back, and take a deep swallow—she frowned suspiciously. "Li Luo, have you secretly drunk before?"

"Uh… how could I… I'm a good student."

"Then why are you so skilled?"

"Fine…" Li Luo sighed. "Back in middle school, Zhao Rongjun got curious and dragged me to drink a few times."

"How could he do that?" Ying Chanxi frowned, displeased. "He even corrupted you."

"You can't say it that way," Li Luo muttered, slightly embarrassed, silently reciting, "Sin, sin." "A little alcohol lifts the mood—just don't drink often. Binge drinking is unacceptable, but occasionally, when the mood strikes, a couple of drinks won't hurt."

"Exactly, exactly!" Xu Youyu wrapped her arm around Ying Chanxi's neck and popped open her can. "Come on, cheers!"

Ying Chanxi, dazed, accepted the beer, clinked her can against Xu Youyu's and Li Luo's, then cupped it with both hands and took a tiny sip.

Then she slightly furrowed her brow.

"How is it?" Li Luo asked. "If you don't like it, don't drink more."

"It's hard to describe," Ying Chanxi savored the liquor in her mouth. "It just tastes… strange."

"It's your first time—just a little taste is enough." Li Luo placed the beer on the coffee table and began shuffling the cards. "Alright, let's play."

"Play play!" After drinking, Xu Youyu visibly perked up, crossed her legs on the sofa, swaying her body, then pulled out a lipstick from her pocket. "Almost forgot this."

"What are you doing?" Li Luo, about to deal, froze at the sight of it and asked sharply.

"Punishment, of course~" Xu Youyu grinned. "What's the fun without stakes? The loser gets lipstick painted on their face."

"Damn! Going that far?"

"What's that? Deal the cards! You scared?"

"Why would I be scared?"

"What about you, Xixi?"

"I—I… fine, I'm not afraid either."

The lipstick was placed in the center of the coffee table.

After dealing, Li Luo arranged his cards, then slightly closed his eyes—fleeting light flickered within them.

A faint smile curled his lips.

He thought.

Senior, you walked right into my trap.

Don't blame me for being ruthless!

Li Luo opened his eyes, sharp brilliance gleaming.

In his mind—

Memory Palace.

Full activation!