Chapter 219

At 5 p. m., Qianzhou arrived safely at Yinjiang District in Yuhang City, took the subway all the way to the South Station exit, and was picked up by Li Luo and brought home.

Although Qianzhou was considerably older than Li Luo, his age—just graduated from university—made him a youngster in the eyes of Lin Xiuhong and Li Guohong.

After seeing that Li Luo's editor was such a chubby, simple-minded young man, the couple felt considerably more at ease.

They treated the young editor to a hearty meal, and both sides enjoyed the gathering thoroughly.

Meanwhile, as Qianzhou was eating dinner at Li Luo's home, Xu Youyu was also having dinner at her own house.

Cui Suling served rice to her and her father, then shouted toward the study and bedroom, "Dinner's ready!"

Xu Rongsheng and Xu Youyu both came to the living room table and sat down to begin their dinner.

Halfway through the meal, Xu Rongsheng said, "There's a provincial meeting tomorrow—I need to attend. Suling, help me pack my clothes."

"Oh, got it," Cui Suling replied. "What kind of meeting? How long will you be gone?"

"Two or three days," Xu Rongsheng coughed twice and whispered, "Paid conference. You know the kind."

"Oh oh, I understand."

University professors earn barely enough as it is; literature professors can't easily apply for lab funding like science professors, let alone start companies to earn side income.

They can only make a little extra money by attending events or meetings that need literature professors to lend prestige.

Cui Suling knew her husband rarely received such invitations, so she nodded understandingly and planned to pack his bags right after dinner.

At that moment, Xu Youyu, hearing her father was going on a business trip, raised an eyebrow and blinked her eyes. "Can I go back to Bihai Lanting tomorrow too?"

"Why are you going back there?" Cui Suling glared at her, annoyed. "Your dad's going on a trip—he leaves, fine. What's your excuse? Are you tired of staying home with me?"

"Look at what you do all day," Xu Youyu pouted helplessly. "You wake me up at dawn every morning, and even during winter break you won't let me sleep in. Isn't that cruel?"

As she spoke, Xu Youyu mimicked the motions with her hands, convincingly:

"First, you bang on the door so loud it shakes the walls, then you burst in yelling, 'Oh my, look at you—the sun's already on your butt!'"

"Then you yank the curtains open with a swish—the room blazes with light."

"When I still haven't gotten up, you don't let up—you come in with a broom, sweeping the floor even though it's not dirty at all, muttering all the while."

"Look at your clothes, scattered everywhere."

"Your notebooks are tossed all over the desk, never tidied up."

"Your nightstand's crooked—can't you just fix it? Don't you have hands?"

"After sweeping, a little while later, you come back with a mop."

Cui Suling had been angry at first, pointing a finger and frowning, but seeing Xu Youyu's spot-on imitation, she burst out laughing, hands on hips, torn between annoyance and amusement.

Xu Rongsheng beside her chuckled. "Your mom's always like this. Don't you have to wake up early for school every day? Why does your biological clock change the moment vacation starts? That doesn't make sense."

"It's a seasonal biological clock—it switches seamlessly between school and vacation," Xu Youyu said without blinking. "Besides, you're not even home most days."

"You go out to play mahjong in the daytime and dance square dances in the little park at night."

"My absence doesn't change a thing at home."

Cui Suling rolled her eyes. "So you hate being home? When you lived outside, at least you ate at school. Now that you're on break, what are you going to eat?"

"Li Luo cooks," Xu Youyu grinned. "I'll get him to make me meals."

"You're shameless," Cui Suling said, speechless. "He's your junior and your landlord—how can you even ask that? Doesn't Li Luo need to go home and rest?"

"Ugh, if I really have nothing to eat, it's just a few steps back home," Xu Youyu snapped. "I'll just come over and mooch meals then. The rest of the time, I'm more comfortable staying there."

"Honestly, you're so young and already refusing to stay home," Cui Suling grumbled. "Once you marry out, you'll probably forget your parents entirely."

"Then I won't marry," Xu Youyu scoffed. "What's so great about marriage?"

"Don't you dare say things like that," Cui Suling warned seriously. "You'll end up never finding a husband."

"Then I won't find one. Hehehe~"

After dinner, Xu Youyu slipped back to her room, already preparing to head into the city the next day for the Online Literature Association's symposium.

After all, she'd placed in the writing contest, winning second prize—just showing up to collect the award meant a ten-thousand-yuan prize.

She wasn't some prodigy like Chongran, whose average subscription numbers were heading toward twenty thousand.

Xu Youyu's current average subscription was just over three thousand, earning her roughly ten thousand yuan a month in royalties—so this ten-thousand-yuan contest prize was already a significant sum for her.

Yet, compared to her peers who were Gao Zhongsheng, her personal savings already held over forty thousand yuan in cash.

That was a substantial amount—she could easily be called a little fortune.

Her current monthly income was nearly equal to her father's salary.

She was fully self-sufficient without any issue.

This had indirectly fostered her independence—she'd moved to Bihai Lanting on a whim, never worrying about being cut off from allowance.

But Xu Rongsheng and Cui Suling had always raised her well—they never used allowance as leverage.

Compared to Cui Suling's nagging, Xu Rongsheng was the embodiment of reason.

Ever since childhood, whenever Xu Youyu took something seriously and could articulate a clear rationale, Xu Rongsheng would always acknowledge her point, then list counterpoints one by one, engaging her in rational discussion.

If Xu Youyu could respond with logical, rational rebuttals, even if Xu Rongsheng originally opposed her decision, he would ultimately side with his daughter.

For instance, when Xu Youyu insisted on moving out during high school—even though their home was just steps away from the affiliated middle school—after she presented sufficient convincing reasons, Xu Rongsheng ultimately approved.

In this family, although Cui Suling ruled daily matters, when it came to major decisions, though she voiced her opinion, once Xu Rongsheng made a final call, she never opposed it again.

Instead, she actively helped Xu Youyu find an apartment, sign the lease, and handle all the logistics.

Growing up in this environment, Xu Youyu's personality naturally differed from that of ordinary girls.

Especially shaped by Xu Rongsheng's influence, she leaned more toward critical thinking and rationality.

Yet because she was a girl, her novels reflected both tightly logical structure and delicate emotional sensitivity.

This was precisely why, in her past life, after developing her unique writing style, she captured a devoted group of readers.

【Qianzhou】: I've arrived in Yuhang City, just checked into the hotel. What time will you come tomorrow?

Back in her room, Xu Youyu checked QQ and saw a message from her editor sent in the afternoon.

She was napping then, so she didn't see it.

So she thought for a moment, didn't reply immediately, but asked instead.

【Early to Bed Grows Tall】: Tomorrow's the 6th, what's the schedule for the symposium?

Qianzhou didn't reply right away, so Xu Youyu didn't pay much attention, wandered to the study, locked the door, claimed the computer for himself, and started writing.

It wasn't until nine o'clock at night that Qianzhou replied.

【Qianzhou】: Just got back to the hotel, didn't notice the message.

【Qianzhou】: Tomorrow there's nothing scheduled—just check into your hotel rooms, then sign in at the venue, after which you're free to do as you please.

【Qianzhou】: Sign-in at the venue continues until nine p. m.; just arrive before then.

【Qianzhou】: The official symposium mainly takes place on the 7th and 8th.

【Qianzhou】: On the 7th, it's an internal exchange and discussion for the Online Novel circle—some senior authors will take the stage to speak and share experience.

【Qianzhou】: On the 8th, it's a joint symposium with the Writers' Association, where relevant figures will give speeches and also present the essay contest awards you've won.

【Qianzhou】: Actually, the symposium ends on the 8th, but the Online Novel Writers' Association has arranged a banquet, where all attending Online Novel authors will dine together at the hotel.

【Qianzhou】: So the hotel has extended your room reservation by one night—you can check out at noon on the 9th if you need to.

【Early to Bed Grows Tall】: Oh okay, I get it.

【Early to Bed Grows Tall】: If there's nothing on the 6th, I'll just go over after dinner.

Xu Youyu didn't know any authors, so arriving early would do him no good—he might as well stay home and get one more free meal before leaving.

Consider it an extra day with Mom.

Meanwhile, Li Luo had just finished reading Qianzhou's itinerary and replied.

【Chongran】: Then I'll arrive tomorrow afternoon and treat you to dinner.

【Qianzhou】: What are you treating me to?

【Chongran】: Hehe, I'll take you to try Yuhang City's signature dish—West Lake Fish in Vinegar Sauce!

【Qianzhou】: Then I'll look forward to it.

Back then, West Lake Fish in Vinegar Sauce hadn't yet gained such a bad reputation; seeing Qianzhou's innocent reaction, Li Luo couldn't help laughing.

After chatting with Qianzhou, Li Luo began writing.

But not long after, his QQ flashed again.

He looked closely—it was Yan Zhusheng messaging him.

【Yan Zhusheng】: What are you doing?

【Li Luo】: Writing.

【Yan Zhusheng】: Am I interrupting you?

【Li Luo】: For others, yes—it's a real interruption. But you don't count.

【Yan Zhusheng】: Why not?

【Li Luo】: Chatting with you counts as research—it gives me inspiration.

【Yan Zhusheng】: So I'm Mo Qinghan.

【Li Luo】: I've said it before—the novel is pure fiction, don't try to link it to reality. Don't keep identifying yourself with the characters.

【Yan Zhusheng】: You haven't written any original songs in your book for a long time. Aren't you going to include those recent songs?

【Li Luo】: XiXi already knows those songs, and many classmates know them too—if I put them in the book, it'll all be exposed.

【Yan Zhusheng】: Oh right.

【Yan Zhusheng】: How much draft do you have saved up?

【Li Luo】: Not much—just got to 120,000 characters. Still far from my goal of 200,000.

【Yan Zhusheng】: I want to read it (winking face. jpg)

【Li Luo】: Dream on.

【Yan Zhusheng】: You let me read it last time—what's the harm in letting me read it again?

【Li Luo】: Last time was because you lent me your laptop.

【Yan Zhusheng】: Then let me ask you something.

【Li Luo】: Go ahead.

【Yan Zhusheng】: That time I slept in your bedroom with XiXi and we watched a movie together—was that the first time you'd ever watched a movie on a laptop with someone else?

As soon as she said that, Li Luo broke into a sweat.

But he wasn't willing to lie about something like this, so he admitted it.

【Li Luo】: It wasn't the first time… I'd watched one before with XiXi and our senior.

【Yan Zhusheng】: Then I want to read your draft.

【Li Luo】: Fine, fine, fine—I give up. I'll send it to you in a bit.

Li Luo, looking utterly exasperated, organized his draft into a TXT file and sent it to Yan Zhusheng.

He'd realized now: Yan Zhusheng, at certain moments, wasn't dumb at all—she was no longer easy to fool.

And after receiving the draft, Yan Zhusheng was thoroughly satisfied.

【Yan Zhusheng】: Keep writing—I won't bother you anymore.

【Li Luo】: Heh, woman—you ditch me the moment you get the draft?

【Yan Zhusheng】: Don't ever let anyone else watch movies on my laptop again.

【Li Luo】: …Got it.

Completely defeated by Yan Zhusheng, Li Luo pulled at his lips, feeling oddly as if he'd been manipulated in reverse.

Online Yan Zhusheng didn't seem as easy to bully as the real-life one.

Thinking this, Li Luo had planned to keep typing.

Then his QQ avatar flashed again.

Li Luo looked and saw it was Ying Chanxi this time.

【Ying Chanxi】: (image) (image) (image)

【Ying Chanxi】: Look! Eiffel Tower!

【Li Luo】: Very pretty, but the photo's angle isn't great—this was taken by Uncle Ying, right?

【Ying Chanxi】: Hahaha~ I told my dad his shot was bad, and he still argued! He made me look ugly!

【Li Luo】: Not at all—Uncle Ying's photography skills can't touch your beauty.

【Ying Chanxi】: What are you doing?

Li Luo glanced at his typing interface, silently opened Steam, picked a random game, then took a screenshot and sent it.

【Li Luo】: (screenshot)

【Li Luo】: You know.

【Ying Chanxi】: Don't always play games!

【Li Luo】: I was just playing when you asked.

【Ying Chanxi】: Then remember to sleep early—you're already nine at night there, right? Don't play past eleven.

【Li Luo】: Got it, I'll listen to you.

【Ying Chanxi】: Good boy.

【Ying Chanxi】: Any plans these days?

【Li Luo】: What plans could you have during winter break?

【Ying Chanxi】: You could go out and have fun—like playing basketball with Zhao Rongjun.

【Li Luo】: Yeah, I'll find him.

【Ying Chanxi】: Can I hear you sing?

【Li Luo】: Why out of nowhere?

【Ying Chanxi】: I just suddenly want to—send me a voice message?

【Li Luo】: You're impossible.

No sooner had he said it than a voice invite popped up.

With his hands freed, Li Luo simply kept typing on his computer while chatting with Ying Chanxi, occasionally humming a tune for her.

His Memory Palace spun at high speed; dual-tasking was barely manageable.

They chatted until凌晨, when Ying Chanxi was called out by Ying Zhicheng for dinner.

Only then did Ying Chanxi realize.

【Ying Chanxi】: It's already凌晨 over there! Why didn't you remind me?

【Li Luo】: Lost track of time, forgot.

【Ying Chanxi】: Hah~ You didn't even check the time chatting with me?

【Li Luo】: Yeah—your voice is so nice, I just forgot.

【Ying Chanxi】: Hmph, fine, I'm off to eat—go to sleep now.

Ying Chanxi: Hmph, fine, I'm going to eat. Go to sleep already.

【Ying Chanxi】: Goodnight~

【Li Luo】: Mm, goodnight.

【Li Luo】: Mm, good night.