Chapter 308

Because before lunch, Yan Zhusheng called Yuan Wanqing but couldn't reach her, so she asked Yuan Wanqing's assistant.

She learned her mother had returned home in the morning, but still had an event to attend by three in the afternoon.

So as soon as school ended, Yan Zhusheng accompanied Li Luo and the others to lunch, then took a taxi back to the residential complex.

She was in a good mood today, stepping lightly, thinking about the class-trip next month on the 17th—she could travel alone with Li Luo, and that made her happy.

Plus, the subject-selection form requiring parental signatures, she'd chosen the same three subjects as Li Luo, which basically guaranteed they'd be in the same class when Gao Er was reorganized.

And given Kong Jun's obsession with Li Luo as class monitor, he'd likely still be their homeroom teacher then.

If that happened, Yan Zhusheng thought, she might even get to sit next to Li Luo again in Gao Er.

When she arrived at the front door, Yan Zhusheng pulled out her keys and opened it.

As she stepped inside and was about to change into slippers, her expression froze—she looked down at a pair of men's leather shoes she hadn't seen before.

She'd never seen those shoes before…

Yan Zhusheng slightly furrowed her brow, confirmed her mother's shoes were still there, and felt slightly relieved—at least the house hadn't been broken into, but someone her mother was hosting had come.

But…

No one was in the first-floor living room.

Yan Zhusheng looked around the living room in confusion—it was empty.

Yuan Wanqing wasn't there either.

So after changing into slippers, Yan Zhusheng headed upstairs.

As she climbed the stairs, Yan Zhusheng pressed her lips together and faintly heard voices coming from the master bedroom.

That voice sounded familiar—she felt she'd heard it somewhere before.

When she reached the master bedroom door, she finally made out the conversation inside.

"I still have an event to attend this afternoon—I'll have to leave soon."

"Mm, did your driver come? If not, I'll drive you."

"That'd be too much trouble—you've got Ying Chanxi waiting for you to come home for dinner. Don't bother with me, my assistant is already waiting."

"Alright then, I'll be off?"

"Mm… uh… wait a second, my assistant just texted—I'll check." Yuan Wanqing pressed her finger against Ying Zhicheng's lips, glanced at her phone, then fell silent. Several seconds passed before footsteps approached the bedroom door.

Seeing this, Yan Zhusheng didn't know why, but quietly retreated downstairs and went to the entrance, pretending she'd just changed into her slippers.

At that moment, the master bedroom door opened, and Yuan Wanqing and Ying Zhicheng came down, neatly dressed; seeing Yan Zhusheng just arriving, they seemed to exhale in relief.

Yan Zhusheng tilted her head, looked at Ying Zhicheng, recognized him, and politely greeted him: "Uncle, hello."

Ying Zhicheng smiled and nodded in return, then bid farewell to the mother and daughter, changed his shoes, and left Yuan Wanqing's home.

"Why did Uncle Ying come to our house?" Yan Zhusheng sat beside Yuan Wanqing on the living room sofa and asked curiously.

"He happened to be coming back, so he gave me a ride. Once we got here, I had to invite him in for a visit," Yuan Wanqing smiled without changing expression. "What about you? Why did you suddenly come home? Don't you usually stay with Li Luo and the others on weekends?"

"The school issued the subject-selection consent form." Yan Zhusheng pulled out the form Kong Jun had given her and handed it to Yuan Wanqing. "It needs a parent's signature."

"Oh, let me see." Yuan Wanqing took the form, glanced at it briefly—since they'd already discussed it at the parent-teacher dinner, she had nothing more to say and signed it quickly. "Is that good enough?"

"Mm." Yan Zhusheng nodded. "You still have an event this afternoon?"

"Yes. What about you?"

"I'm going back to Bihai Lanting." Yan Zhusheng pressed her lips together, then said.

"Perfect—I'll have the driver come early and drop you off."

"Oh." Yan Zhusheng nodded obediently.

Watching Yuan Wanqing walk back upstairs to the master bedroom to fetch something, Yan Zhusheng's expression grew puzzled—why would inviting Uncle Ying in for a visit lead to him being in her mother's bedroom?

Maybe her mother just went upstairs to get something, and they chatted casually along the way?

Yan Zhusheng scratched her head, a nagging suspicion lingered, but she thought she might just be imagining things.

After all, he was Ying Chanxi's father.

What she'd heard at the bedroom door was just normal conversation between friends.

Yan Zhusheng shook her head, pushed her strange thoughts aside, and when Yuan Wanqing finished packing, she stood up and followed her downstairs, being dropped off at the entrance of Bihai Lanting.

It was still only a little past two in the afternoon.

Because everyone was going home, Xu Youyu had also returned home today and wouldn't be back tonight.

Yan Zhusheng walked into the living room, wandered around, then entered the piano room, planning to kill some time.

In the evening, she went downstairs to eat nearby, and when she returned to 1502, she glanced toward Li Luo's bedroom, then found her feet moving involuntarily, step by step, walking inside.

She sat beside Li Luo's bed, lay down, pulled the blanket over herself, inhaled the familiar scent, and instantly felt calm.

Somehow, she gradually fell asleep.

Not until past nine did she suddenly wake up, picked up her phone, saw it was only nine at night, sighed softly, rolled onto her stomach on Li Luo's bed, and found his QQ.

…

Meanwhile, after Ying Zhicheng returned home, he went to Li Guohong's house, and the two families had dinner together.

But Ying Zhicheng still had work to handle at the company, so he didn't stay to drink with Li Guohong; after dinner, he signed the form for Ying Chanxi, then hurriedly left.

After dinner, Ying Chanxi helped Lin Xiuhong wash the dishes, and the four of them sat on the sofa, watching TV and chatting.

When the topic turned to farm stays, Li Guohong asked: "I heard you said before that Teacher Kong and English teacher Ding are a couple, right?"

"Yeah." Li Luo, scrolling through QQ messages from the editor, nodded in response.

"So, anything we should watch out for? How's their relationship going?"

"Dad, why are you so nosy?"

"What's nosy about it?" Li Guohong rolled his eyes. "I'm just thinking—should we give them one room or two separate rooms?"

"One room," Li Luo grinned. "Teacher Kong's almost thirty—give him two rooms and he'll probably think you're clueless."

"Hey hey hey, what are you talking about?" Lin Xiuhong walked out of the kitchen after cutting up fruit, immediately cutting off the topic and glaring at Li Guohong. "What are you saying in front of the kids?"

"Cough… I didn't say anything." Li Guohong muttered a few words and fell silent at once.

Ying Chanxi, sitting beside Li Luo, upon hearing the term "farmstay," immediately looked gloomy, so she secretly stepped on Li Luo's foot.

Li Luo: "?"

Li Luo turned to look at Ying Chanxi, then sighed helplessly and said to his parents, "Can you please stop talking about farmstays? If you say it a few more times, someone's going to cry."

"I didn't cry!" Ying Chanxi hit him in annoyance and quickly denied it.

Lin Xiuhong glanced at Ying Chanxi and said, "You want to go too? Even though it's Class Eight's class-trip, if you want to join, you can come along—Class Eight has a few classmates from middle school, and you're close with Zhusheng anyway, you'd get along fine."

"Don't bring it up—she has competition class on Friday," Li Luo waved his hand. "Mom, don't tempt her."

Ying Chanxi let out a muffled grunt.

But then Li Luo said, "Still, how about we take a trip in August? Just the two of us, no one else."

"Really?" Ying Chanxi's eyes lit up instantly. "Where to?"

"Changning City? An international metropolis—my parents have probably never been there."

"Changning? That's pretty close," Li Guohong nodded. "Though I've never been to Changning, I did go to Jingcheng when I was young—back in the day…"

"Stop, stop," Lin Xiuhong cut off Li Guohong's nostalgic rambling and turned to Li Luo. "Why out of nowhere do you want to travel to Changning?"

"Oh, it's like this." Li Luo showed his phone and said, "My editor invited me to a Wenxue Group author salon—it's an official event for authors to communicate and exchange ideas."

"The tentative dates are August 14 to 16."

"But the 14th is Friday, so Chanxi will have class first—I'll go ahead alone."

"Then you two can bring her to Changning on Saturday—how's that?"

"Author salon?" Li Guohong pondered curiously. "That sounds pretty high-end."

"Cough… I don't really understand it either. It's just a gathering." Li Luo had never done this well in his past life.

In his past life, Xu Youyu became a top author just as Li Luo's Short Drama blew up in failure.

So Li Luo never learned what kind of events top Online Novel authors usually attended.

Even last month's symposium—he'd never heard of it in his past life.

For example, the annual conference—only top authors and ten-thousand-subscription writers were invited.

This author salon was another event that had only ever existed in rumors within the Online Novel circle.

【Chongran】: Will you be busy then?

【Chongran】: If you're not busy, I want to take my parents to Changning for a trip.

【Qianzhou】: Even if you didn't say it, I was going to suggest you bring your parents along.

【Qianzhou】: The mid-year salon isn't just for authors to exchange ideas and interact with our official team—it's also a rehearsal for the Grand Author selection.

【Qianzhou】: Anyone invited to the salon will almost certainly be selected in the first Grand Author candidate list submitted in September.

【Qianzhou】: After three rounds of evaluation, the final Grand Author list will be confirmed before the year-end conference.

【Qianzhou】: Authors whose performance is already solid enough can start negotiating their Grand Author contract details even before the August salon.

【Qianzhou】: You get what I mean, right?

【Chongran】: Got it.

The editor's meaning was simple.

With Li Luo's current explosive performance, becoming a Grand Author is inevitable.

So now is the perfect chance to privately negotiate the specific Grand Author contract terms with Wenxue Group during this salon.

Generally, Online Novel authors sign standardized contracts—all the same template.

But once you reach Grand Author status, it becomes a customized contract.

Grand Author authors can negotiate specific contract details with Wenxue Group according to their personal needs.

For example, the most basic: royalty splits rise from 50-50 to 30-70.

Beyond that, additional clauses can be added regarding channel promotion, official traffic boosts, and similar specifics.

For instance, copyright transactions—whether the author grants licenses by royalty split or accepts buyouts—can all be negotiated.

The better a Grand Author's performance before signing, the more likely Wenxue Group will concede on certain terms.

But authors barely scraping in as Grand Authors may get nothing beyond the 30-70 royalty split.

Thus, even among Grand Authors, there are differences—not to mention Platinum Authors above them.

After explaining the author salon to his parents and Ying Chanxi, Li Guohong and Lin Xiuhong finally understood the situation.

Then Li Guohong frowned and said, "Should we find a lawyer who knows this stuff ahead of time? Your mom and I don't understand contracts—how will we negotiate?"

"Mm." Li Luo nodded. "But no rush—the contract won't be signed at the salon. We can first learn the lay of the land."

"As for the lawyer, I'll ask some colleagues I met at the symposium—they might have recommendations."

"As for this salon, just treat it like a normal trip—have fun with Chanxi."

"Oh, by the way." Li Luo turned to Ying Chanxi. "Ask your dad—if he's free then, we can all go sightseeing together."

"Oh." Ying Chanxi nodded. She wasn't particularly interested in Li Luo's salon, but she was delighted at the prospect of traveling with him.

Her earlier gloom over missing the class trip had already lifted somewhat.

Just as Ying Chanxi and Lin Xiuhong began enthusiastically planning their Changning trip, Li Luo's phone vibrated twice more.

He opened it and saw a message from Yan Zhusheng.

【Yan Zhusheng】: What are you doing?

【Li Luo】: Chatting with my parents. What's up?

【Yan Zhusheng】: Guess what I'm doing?

【Li Luo】: You're messaging me.

【Yan Zhusheng】: I'm thinking of you.

"What are you still talking about?" Ying Chanxi and Lin Xiuhong were chatting enthusiastically; seeing Li Luo silent, she curiously leaned over.

Li Luo quickly closed the chat window with Yan Zhusheng, then said: "The editor explained the details of the salon—nothing much."

Only after Ying Chanxi nodded, unconcerned, did Li Luo reopen the chat with Yan Zhusheng.

【Yan Zhusheng】: Don't you miss me?

【Li Luo】: That depends on what kind of missing you mean.

【Yan Zhusheng】: Of course it's the kind between good friends—what did you think of?

【Li Luo】: Nothing. I think it's just the kind between good friends too.

【Yan Zhusheng】: Then do you miss me?

【Li Luo】: I am.

【Yan Zhusheng】: Aren't you coming back today?

【Li Luo】: Mm.

【Li Luo】: Did you go back to Bihai Lanting?

【Yan Zhusheng】: Yeah, but I'm alone.

【Li Luo】: We'll be back tomorrow.

【Yan Zhusheng】: I know.

【Yan Zhusheng】: Will Xi Xi go on the class trip?

【Li Luo】: It's called a class trip—only Class Eight will go.

【Yan Zhusheng】: Oh.

【Yan Zhusheng】: So when summer vacation starts, will you go home or stay at Bihai Lanting?

【Li Luo】: Probably the same as during school—though I'll probably go home every few days to have meals and chat with my parents.

The two chatted idly for a while.

After a while, a new message popped up on Li Luo's phone.

He checked it and found it was from Xu Youyu.

【EarlySleepTall】: Did you get the editor's invitation? For the writers' salon.

【Chongran】: Huh? You got one too?

【EarlySleepTall】: Hey hey hey! Why are you so surprised?

【Chongran】: Oh, I am a bit surprised, but thinking about it, it's normal.

【EarlySleepTall】: Hmph, surely someone knew before me, right?

【Chongran】: Senior is still very smart.

【Chongran】: Did the editor mention the Grandmaster to you?

【EarlySleepTall】: Huh?

【Chongran】: Didn't he? Then forget I asked.

【EarlySleepTall】: Damn! Why are you so arrogant! Annoying!

【EarlySleepTall】: Will you be promoted to Grandmaster by year-end?

【Chongran】: Probably.

【EarlySleepTall】: A little jealous… I wonder if I'll ever get chosen.

【Chongran】: You will. Want to bet again?

【EarlySleepTall】: Hehe, someone's got a serious gambling habit—just lost to me last time, and I haven't even used my winner's privilege yet.

【Chongran】: Then use it already. Otherwise you'll be anxious all the time.

【EarlySleepTall】: No rush. We'll see later.

…

【Yan Zhusheng】: Can you come back earlier tomorrow?

【Li Luo】: Probably not until after lunch—we can head straight to school from there since Xi Xi's going to the competition class.

【Yan Zhusheng】: But I don't want to eat lunch alone. I went downstairs for dinner last night—it was awful. Yours tastes better.

【Li Luo】: Then buy some groceries tomorrow noon, and I'll cook for you when I get back?

【Yan Zhusheng】: Okay.

Li Luo chatted with Xu Youyu while also chatting with Yan Zhusheng; whenever Ying Chanxi and Lin Xiuhong mentioned him, he nodded in response.

Ying Chanxi remained completely unaware, fully immersed in anticipation of their August trip to Changning City as they planned their journey together.

…

The next day, under Li Luo's urging, Lin Xiuhong prepared lunch early.

After eating lunch around eleven-thirty, Li Luo and Ying Chanxi packed their bags and headed for Bihai Lanting.

"Aren't you going straight to school?" Li Luo asked Ying Chanxi, who had followed them all the way to the gated community entrance.

"No rush," Ying Chanxi blinked, looking at him strangely. "It's only eleven-thirty—class doesn't start until after one. Why go so early?"

"True…"

The two arrived at Door 1502, opened it, and entered. Ying Chanxi slipped on slippers, dropped her bag on the sofa, and went to the bathroom.

Li Luo glanced around the living room, then the kitchen, and spotted a bag of ingredients placed on the cutting board.

Li Luo walked into his bedroom with his bag, tossed it casually onto the bed, and was about to step out to check on Yan Zhusheng's room.

Then he heard a soft "Mmm"—his bag seemed to have made a sound?

Li Luo looked toward his bed. In the dim room, hidden by the curtains, Yan Zhusheng lay on his bed, half-asleep, hugging his bag against his stomach.

Seeing this, Li Luo was left speechless.

"Why are you in my room?"

"You hurt me," Yan Zhusheng said, wincing from the impact. After gently setting her backpack aside, she rubbed her abdomen.

Li Luo: "..."

Hearing her say that, Li Luo felt a twinge of embarrassment and hurried to the bedside, crouching down to pat her abdomen through the blanket. "Are you... are you okay?"

"It hurts," Yan Zhusheng pressed her lips together, then took Li Luo's hand and pulled it beneath the blanket. "Rub it, and it won't hurt anymore."

The next instant, Li Luo felt the soft, flat warmth of her lower abdomen—skin smooth and delicate, hard to let go of.

"Like... like this?" Li Luo gently pressed and rubbed, swallowing hard.

"Mm," Yan Zhusheng closed her eyes in comfort.

But suddenly, from the bathroom down the hallway, Ying Chanxi called out: "Li Luo! Li Luo!"

Li Luo was just touching her when Ying Chanxi's shout startled him—he yanked his hand back, answered her from outside, then whispered to Yan Zhusheng: "Get up quick, or Xixi will see."

"Mmm..." Yan Zhusheng hesitated, but knew when to yield. She obediently pulled back the blanket, revealing her short-sleeved pajama top and ultra-short pajama pants.

The hem of her top had ridden up, exposing her flat abdomen and slender waist.

Li Luo froze, stunned.

At that moment, Ying Chanxi called again from the bathroom: "The toilet paper's run out. Can you bring me a new roll?"

"Got it!" Li Luo replied, then hurriedly urged: "Hurry up, get up—I still need to take her paper."

"Carry me up," Yan Zhusheng extended her arms, playfully pouting.

Li Luo had no choice—he scooped her up in a bridal carry, turned, and walked straight out.

Yan Zhusheng felt herself lifted into the air, startled for a moment—then, when she came to, Li Luo was already carrying her out of the bedroom.

She immediately wrapped her arms tightly around his neck. As they passed the bathroom door, her bare foot accidentally tapped the door, producing a dull thud.

"What hit the door?" Ying Chanxi asked, puzzled.

"My elbow bumped it," Li Luo said quickly. "I'll bring the paper right away—I need to find where I put the old roll."

Saying that, he dashed into Yan Zhusheng's room and set her on the bed.

But as he turned to leave, Yan Zhusheng grabbed his wrist, pointed to her foot, held it out before him, and blinked. "You hurt my foot."

Li Luo: "..."

He was certain he'd only lightly brushed the door.

How could it hurt?

Grumbling, he pinched her cheek. "If you keep messing around, I'm going to get mad."

"Oh..." Yan Zhusheng obediently pulled her foot back, then picked up the tissue box beside her bed. "Then take it to Xixi."

Li Luo snatched the tissues, released her soft cheek, and stepped out to deliver the paper to Ying Chanxi.

Watching Li Luo's retreating back, Yan Zhusheng's mind lingered on the moment he'd carried her bridal-style—her head still dizzy.

Lying on the bed, she closed her eyes, touched her abdomen, pressed her lips together, savoring the moment.