Chapter 239: It

In the afternoon.

Li Luo spent several hours typing alongside Xu Youyu in the living room.

After days of grueling effort, his draft backlog finally surpassed the 200,000-word mark again.

Under Li Luo's urging, Xu Youyu had also accumulated five chapters of draft.

That would let her take two extra days off during New Year's Eve and the Spring Festival without needing to request leave.

But when Li Luo suggested she use her draft backlog for New Year's Eve, Xu Youyu said, "Of course I'm taking leave on New Year's Eve."

"Why?"

"If I take leave on New Year's Eve, readers won't scold me," Xu Youyu declared confidently. "It's rare to have a chance to take leave without getting scolded—why waste my draft on it? You're terrible at managing resources. You don't understand frugality at all."

Li Luo: "... I have plenty of draft. No need to be so calculating."

"Tsk." Xu Youyu clicked her tongue in dissatisfaction, sharply condemning him. "You're the bourgeoisie of writing—you've passed the stage of primitive capital accumulation and can't empathize with real proletarian writers at all!"

"Who still has capitalists working on the production front these days?" Li Luo rolled his eyes. "I'm barely a senior writer."

"Oh~ So you're a capitalist lackey who can't even become a capitalist!" Xu Youyu wrapped her arms around Li Luo's neck, squeezed hard, and yanked him into her chest with a scissors hold. "Then you really deserve to die!"

Li Luo felt the back of his head sink into an impossibly soft cushion, nearly drowning in her warmth, utterly oblivious to any threat from the proletarian writer.

"Alright, alright—it's almost evening." Li Luo broke free from Xu Youyu's embrace, stood up, straightened his clothes, then began tidying the desk. "Let's each go home to our own moms."

"Ahhh…" At those words, Xu Youyu's lively expression instantly turned melancholy. "So it's ending already?"

"Don't make it sound like a farewell before death. You'll be back after the Spring Festival."

"But when Xi Xi comes back too," Xu Youyu sighed, unexpectedly sad. "I wish it were just the two of us."

"I get the feeling you left half a sentence unsaid?"

"Can't you just feel moved for once?"

"I'm afraid of wasting tears."

"Hmph." Xu Youyu gave him a withering look. "You don't even think about it—you plan to tell Xi Xi you write novels, but I have no intention of telling her."

"When Xi Xi comes back and moves in, how will I be able to write with you anymore?"

"Then your writing efficiency will drop back to normal."

"That's true." Li Luo nodded. "Then just tell Xi Xi too."

"I'm not you," Xu Youyu chuckled. "I'm not stupid enough to let so many people know I write novels—only when I'm cornered do I tell Xi Xi."

"Senior," Li Luo narrowed his eyes, smiling sweetly. "Don't get too arrogant. If you push me too far, I won't mind dragging you down with me. You don't want your classmates to find out that our student council president, literature club president, top student of Gao Er, writes that kind of novel, do you?"

"You!" Xu Youyu's face flushed crimson with rage, but she had nowhere to vent—she gritted her teeth, swallowed her fury, and forced a smile. "Where did you get such notions, Young Master? Whatever you command, this humble girl will obey completely—dare not harbor even a speck of resentment."

"Hmm, good." Li Luo nodded. "Then help me put my laptop back in my backpack. Bring the keyboard and mouse too, and the charging cable."

"Of course, Young Master." Xu Youyu smiled gently and neatly packed his backpack, then asked sweetly, "Does the Young Master have any other orders?"

"My shoulders feel a bit stiff." Li Luo sat on the sofa and twisted his neck and shoulders.

"I'll give you a massage." Xu Youyu hurried behind the sofa, her delicate, boneless hands resting on Li Luo's shoulders.

"My legs feel stiff too." Li Luo lifted both feet and placed them on the coffee table.

"Don't you dare take advantage!" Xu Youyu snapped, grabbing his neck with both hands and squeezing. "You're getting worse!"

"See? Your true colors are showing."

"It's you who's pressing me!" Xu Youyu huffed. "If this were real, I'd have strangled you to death already."

The two played around in the living room, and soon, amid their antics, packed up their belongings.

Around five in the evening, the two dragged their luggage out the door—truly, each to their own home.

"Hey, Li Luo."

As Li Luo was about to hail a taxi at the gated community entrance, Xu Youyu, already leaving, called out to him.

"What is it?"

"Next time we meet will be after the New Year, right?"

"Yeah."

"Then… should we take one last bit of inspiration before New Year's Eve?" Xu Youyu tilted her head toward him. In that final moment, memories of their days alone flooded her mind, prompting her to say this.

"You're going home too," Li Luo laughed. "What kind of inspiration are you planning?"

"Just say yes first—you'll find out."

"I don't mind, but…"

Before Li Luo could finish, Xu Youyu dropped her suitcase and strode straight toward him.

Before Li Luo could react, she threw her arms around him.

Li Luo froze instantly.

"Hold me," Xu Youyu buried her head against his chest, feeling his heartbeat and warmth, whispering softly. "I'm taking inspiration—hurry up."

Li Luo blinked, his hands hovering in midair. After several seconds, he gently rested them on Xu Youyu's shoulders.

But Xu Youyu showed him no mercy—her arms tightened around his back, squeezing harder and harder.

Even through their thick down jackets, Li Luo could clearly feel the astonishing breadth of her chest, shifting and pressing against his own.

They held each other like that for who knew how long.

Xu Youyu finally released him, stepped back, and smiled at him, her cheeks flushed with a rare blush, her expression bright and mischievous. "This hug gave me inspiration—it'll last until I see you again."

…

Back home, after days away, Li Luo ate his mother's cooking and listened as she laid out the schedule for the coming days.

"Xi Xi and the others will be back tonight."

"Tomorrow we'll go buy New Year goods, and the day after that we'll head back to the countryside."

"The day after that is New Year's Eve—we'll have a proper family reunion."

"On New Year's Day, visit your relatives—everyone on your dad's side needs to be seen."

"Then on the second day, we'll go to your maternal grandparents' village for dinner."

"From the third to the seventh, we'll stay in the countryside."

"You start school on March first, so we can return on the eighth, spend two more days at home, then get ready for classes."

Saying this, Lin Xiuhong turned to Li Guohong and asked, "How many kids this year? Qiqi and Lulu have graduated and started working, Jiajia is still in university—prepare a red envelope."

"Your second uncle has one, your third uncle has three, and our side has three."

"Right? Did I count right?"

"You missed one," Li Guohong reminded. "Your second uncle's son Guoyao got married last year—his child was born at year-end, just in time for the hundred-day celebration. You'll need to give a bigger one."

"Oh right, I forgot all about that," Lin Xiuhong immediately nodded and noted it down, then couldn't help sighing, "Look at everyone's kids—each one's married and settled. When will that boy Li Luo ever give me a grandchild?"

"Mom," Li Luo said, utterly speechless. "I'm still in first year of high school. If I actually gave you a baby, you'd have a heart attack."

"I was just saying it," Lin Xiuhong shot him a disgruntled look. "You actually believe me? Besides, you're making money writing now. You can't have a baby in high school, but once you're in university, why not? I heard people say university grades get bonus points for being married."

Li Luo pulled at his mouth: "…You've got quite the plan there—killing multiple birds with one stone."

"Eat your dinner," Lin Xiuhong rolled her eyes. "Study hard, and don't let your grades slip while writing. That's all I ask."

"Don't just talk about me," Li Luo reminded. "You and Dad should also ask around about those shops near the subway entrance. If it works out, you two won't have to get up before dawn and come home after dark every day. Isn't it better to collect rent and enjoy some peace?"

"It's still a long way off," Lin Xiuhong said aloud, though inwardly she was delighted.

Originally, when Li Luo got into Fuyi High, Lin Xiuhong thought it was a fortune their family had earned in a past life.

But this fortune was only just beginning—the best was still to come.

Now, thinking back, it felt like a dream.

Lin Xiuhong's face glowed with joy; she was already eager to return to the countryside, bringing her husband and son home in triumph.

…

After dinner, Li Luo helped his mother wash the dishes, then returned to his room to write.

As for Li Guohong and Lin Xiuhong, since the breakfast shop was officially closed from today until March first, they finally gave themselves a New Year's break and went out for a stroll late at night.

They didn't return until past nine.

After all, their long-standing biological clock kept them sleeping early.

Li Luo, however, wrote until ten p. m., occasionally chatting with Xu Youyu on QQ, posting in the author group he'd joined at the symposium, and bowing to the masters.

Then the masters playfully bowed back to him; everyone was friendly, sharing recent updates.

Perhaps because of Li Luo's sharp remarks to Chu Sheng at the symposium, the masters in the group treated him well.

This temporary QQ group hadn't faded like most groups—it remained lively every day.

In this group, Li Luo, the kid with 370,000 yuan in royalties this month, was noticeable, but far from the brightest.

This made him feel relaxed posting, and he became more active as a result.

Then, at around eleven p. m., Li Luo's QQ avatar flashed.

It was Yan Zhusheng's message.

【Yan Zhusheng】: Landed!

【Li Luo】: Received.

【Yan Zhusheng】: Are you free these two days?

【Li Luo】: Tomorrow I'm going with Mom and Dad to buy New Year goods. The day after, we're returning to the countryside.

【Yan Zhusheng】: Okay… When can I come to the countryside to see you?

【Li Luo】: Not before the third day? On the second day I have to go with Mom and Dad to my maternal grandparents' for dinner.

【Yan Zhusheng】: Oh.

【Li Luo】: You can contact Senior first—she also plans to visit us during the holiday. You two can travel together.

【Yan Zhusheng】: I see. Got it.

【Li Luo】: Let me know when you get home.

【Yan Zhusheng】: Okay.

Putting down his phone, Li Luo blinked, silently waiting.

But long after, no message came from the other person.

So he sent another message.

【Li Luo】: Are you there yet?

After a while, Ying Chanxi replied.

【Ying Chanxi】: Arrived.

【Li Luo】: Where are you now?

【Ying Chanxi】: On the road.

【Li Luo】: How long until you get home?

【Ying Chanxi】: 30

Li Luo now felt something was off; he frowned, sinking into thought.

Could it be that after traveling so long, the flight and journey had exhausted her?

Or perhaps…

Li Luo recalled his earlier suspicion—the matter between Uncle Ying and Aunt Yuan… Could they have finally confronted Ying Chanxi?

If so, it made perfect sense that her mood was so low.

Thinking of this, Li Luo's brow tightened further.

After about twenty minutes passed.

Li Luo stood up, put on his down jacket, wrapped the scarf Ying Chanxi had given him around his neck, and went downstairs to the entrance of his building, standing silently in the cold wind.

A few minutes later, two brilliant white headlights turned into the compound gate and stopped at the building entrance.

Ying Zhicheng and Ying Chanxi got out of the car; Secretary Rong and the driver also stepped out, retrieved the luggage from the trunk, and carried it up to the fourth floor first.

Ying Zhicheng and Ying Chanxi followed behind, walking to the building entrance.

Ying Zhicheng, walking ahead, glanced at Li Luo: "It's so cold this late at night—let's go up. You've been waiting for us."

"No problem, I just came down a little while ago," Li Luo chuckled twice, then his gaze settled on Ying Chanxi, and he waved at her. "It's been over ten days—don't you recognize me?"

Ying Chanxi looked up at him and immediately smiled, walking up to Li Luo and lifting her hand to adjust the scarf around his chest. "I've been thinking of you these past few days—finally, I've seen you."

Seeing this, Ying Zhicheng shook his head with a smile and left them be, heading upstairs to open the door for the secretary and driver carrying the luggage.

At the building entrance below, Li Luo looked at Ying Chanxi before him and felt she was both familiar and slightly unfamiliar.

But he couldn't say what had changed.

"What are you staring at?" Ying Chanxi waved her hand in front of his face, her smile never fading. "Still planning to stand here in the cold? Let's go up."