Chapter 311

After their first study session on Saturday, Sunday was the day off.

But in the morning, while Li Luo was typing, he heard the sound of someone opening the door.

He stepped out of his room and saw Lin Xiuhong walking in, followed by Li Guohong and Lin Xiufeng.

The two men carried a white writing board on a mobile stand, bringing it all the way to the living room, where, under Lin Xiuhong's direction, they placed it against the wall behind the living room desk.

Li Luo glanced at the thing and asked, "Mom, what's going on? Why'd you suddenly bring this over?"

"I thought about how you all need to study," Lin Xiuhong chuckled. "When we renovated our breakfast shop into an office, people kept recommending office supplies to us."

"We didn't need any of the other stuff."

"But this writing board they pushed—I thought it might actually be useful."

"Aren't you planning to teach Zhusheng and the others new lessons this summer? Wouldn't a writing board help a lot?"

Li Luo walked up to the writing board, picked up the included black pen, scribbled a few lines on it, then wiped it clean with the eraser and nodded. "It's pretty convenient."

"Good, if it's useful, that's all that matters," Lin Xiuhong nodded satisfied. "Since I'm here today, I bought some vegetables—I'll cook you all lunch before I leave. Where are the three girls?"

"Zhusheng is in the piano room," Li Luo pointed toward the piano room, then at the study. "Senior sister is sleeping in, and Chanxi is probably reading in her room."

"And what about you? What were you just doing?"

"I was typing."

"Good," Lin Xiuhong nodded, deeply satisfied with Li Luo's current state—and grateful she'd chosen to buy this house.

Look at her son now: accomplished himself, surrounded by equally accomplished girls, and even during summer break, they all study and improve together.

It felt like every good thing had landed in her lap.

At that moment, Yan Zhusheng heard the commotion and poked her head out of the piano room. Seeing Lin Xiuhong and the others, she immediately bowed politely and greeted them.

Learning Lin Xiuhong was about to cook, Yan Zhusheng's eyes lit up, and she scurried right after her into the kitchen, eager to learn how to assist in the kitchen.

Li Luo turned to Lin Xiufeng and asked curiously, "Has the milk tea shop started renovation yet?"

"Just started," Lin Xiufeng said. "We were negotiating the design for a while; we broke ground early this month."

"What exactly did you do?"

"Followed what you suggested, and also took the server's advice—expanded the seating area a bit and added a few more tables and chairs."

"Which server?" Li Luo asked, puzzled.

"The one you got from the agent—the previous employee contact info for this milk tea shop," Lin Xiufeng explained. "I called a few; either they'd found new jobs and were busy, or they'd moved out of Yinjiang District."

"Only one was still around—a graduate student at Qianjiang University who used to work here part-time. I called her for advice."

"According to her, my shop's location isn't great—most orders are delivery, so making the store this big is pointless."

"Unless you have something else to draw students in. She suggested making the seating area quieter, turning it into a place where students can drink milk tea and study quietly."

"I figured, since it's just a seating area anyway, making it quiet doesn't hurt—might as well try."

"Oh," Li Luo nodded, indifferent to these small changes—he'd only bought the shop to give his uncle something to do; whether it made money or not didn't matter.

Delivery business would only get better anyway; the shop's location was irrelevant now.

But if this quiet study-area idea worked out, it'd be pretty nice.

Thinking of this, Li Luo smiled and said, "Uncle, if you're going to do this, you might as well separate each table and chair into booths, add curtains, and maybe even set up a few couple-only spots."

"You little rascal," Lin Xiufeng laughed. "You've got a lot of ideas."

"When the right female college student shows up, Uncle, you might as well strike first."

"What are you talking about?" Lin Xiufeng glared at him. "I'm way older—ten years older than these college kids at least."

"That's not that big a gap, and there are grad students and PhDs out there—they're not that far off your age," Li Luo grinned. "By the way, that grad student you mentioned—male or female?"

"... Female."

"Pretty?"

"Decent. Wears glasses, looks quiet," Lin Xiufeng said, then caught himself and snapped, "Don't go messing around. I'm not looking for a girlfriend—I just want to make money and buy a car."

"I was just joking. Why're you so worked up?" Li Luo shrugged. "Calm down—you'll need someone to show off your car to."

"Hmph, vulgar," Lin Xiufeng pointed at his nephew. "You clearly don't understand cars. Anyone who thinks of using a car to chase girls is vulgar. You buy a car for yourself—why invent excuses?"

"Fine, fine, I'm vulgar," Li Luo raised his hands in surrender, not bothering to change his uncle's mind.

He was different from Lin Xiuhong and his grandparents.

If Lin Xiufeng found someone, Li Luo would be happy; if he remained alone, like in his past life, Li Luo wouldn't push him to marry.

This lifetime, with Li Luo backing him up, his uncle wouldn't starve, and without his mother falling ill, he wouldn't end up destitute.

Living alone could be quite carefree.

Forcing someone to change their worldview to match your wishes was inherently twisted.

Li Luo had no interest in such things.

Let everything unfold naturally.

…

Time slipped away quietly amid focused study.

Starting Monday, July 6th, for the next two weeks, the seven-person study group immersed themselves in an excellent learning atmosphere.

With Cui Suling's daily terrifying greetings, Xu Youyu obediently woke up every morning—though he still refused to join Li Luo and the others for morning runs, timing his rise just slightly earlier than Cui Suling's arrival.

It was like he'd rekindled his old experience of outwitting his mother at home.

As time passed, the day of the Class 8-1 class trip drew nearer; by the evening of the 16th, the Class 8 QQ group was buzzing with excitement, everyone discussing plans for the coming days, their anticipation unmistakable.

【Zhang Guohuang】: We're meeting at 7:30 tomorrow, right? I need to set an alarm.

【Lin Yuan】: I think I won't be able to sleep!

【Zhu Yufei】: Don't forget to bring Three Kingdoms Kill—we'll play all night! @Zhang Guohuang

【Fang Chen】: Isn't this a farm stay? Why bring Three Kingdoms Kill there?

【Lu Jiahao】: Is there a room over there that can be used as a study room?

【Xu Guangtao】: 6

【Xu Yinghuan】: Lu Shen, stop studying. Play a bit longer tomorrow—you're making us feel so much pressure.

【Li Luo】: What you say won't help. I have to do it.

【Li Luo】: Over there you can feed chickens and ducks, and there are little rabbits to feed too! There seem to be sheep as well, and several cats and dogs. @Lu Jiahao

【Lu Jiahao】: Really?

【Xu Yinghuan】: Wait… is that actually useful?

【Ren Zheng】: I've seen Lu Shen petting stray cats at school before.

【Lu Jiahao】: If there are small animals, I won't bring my homework.

【Zhang Guohuang】: Okay okay, let's all play Three Kingdoms Kill together then!

【Lin Yuan】: Watch me crush you all!

【Hua Xiuxiu】: So why is Three Kingdoms Kill even fun?

【Lin Yuan】: Honestly, I think so too.

【Zhu Yufei】: Dude, you've got no shame left.

【Li Luo】: There's also mahjong and playing cards over there—you don't have to play Three Kingdoms Kill.

【Li Luo】: Oh right, there's also an e-sports room over there, but I didn't mention it in the class-trip notice—don't spread the word, we can sneak over and play later.

【Zhang Guohuang】: What the hell? There's an e-sports room? Boss, you're my god!

【Zhu Yufei】: Then why bother playing Three Kingdoms Kill at all?

【Lin Yuan】: Let's play LOL!

【Xu Guangtao】: Count me in.

【Fang Chen】: +1

【Li Luo】: Already full? What about me?

【Yan Zhusheng】: You come with me.

【Li Luo】: Shut up.

【Yan Zhusheng】: Okay.

【Zhu Yufei】: Fuck! I can't stay here anymore—I'm leaving.

【Xu Yinghuan】: Li Luo, you're so domineering—you won't even let Zhusheng speak?

【Li Luo】: If you don't want next week's geography test to have more questions, keep your mouth shut.

【Xu Yinghuan】: Bullying! Pure bullying!

【Ren Zheng】: What do you mean by more geography questions? I don't get it.

【Xu Yinghuan】: I've been studying with them—I go over there every day during summer break, I'm exhausted.

【Ren Zheng】: No wonder your grades jumped so fast last semester—you got private tutoring from the class monitor?

【Xu Yinghuan】: The class monitor was giving Zhusheng private tutoring—I just went to steal a bite to eat.

【Zhang Guohuang】: Don't you think you shine like a lightbulb when you're stealing food?

【Xu Yinghuan】: Shut up! I'm not the only one—students from other classes go too.

【Li Luo】: Enough about that. Talk more about tomorrow's plans.

【Li Luo】: Also, go to bed early. Don't show up tomorrow all sluggish.

After closing the QQ group chat, Li Luo stretched and went back to typing on his computer.

Since tomorrow's class-trip was coming, tonight's study plan was canceled.

Li Luo took the chance to write more words.

Just after he picked up the keyboard, Yan Zhusheng walked in through the door and sat on the edge of the bed, watching him.

"What are you doing?"

"You yelled at me just now."

"Why did you say stupid things?"

"I didn't say stupid things," Yan Zhusheng said. "Everything was true."

"Still, don't say it in the group."

"Okay." Yan Zhusheng lifted one foot and placed it on Li Luo's thigh, wiggling it. "Have you written up to the part where I step onto the singer's stage yet? I want to read it."

"Almost there. I'll probably reach it after the class-trip," Li Luo glanced at his draft and outline progress. "Also, I need to correct your mindset again—the character Mo Qinghan in the novel isn't you. Don't get too immersed."

Yan Zhusheng ignored him entirely and asked again: "By the time you write up to next month when my mom steps on stage, you'll have a lot of draft ready, right?"

"What if my mom fails the challenge round and gets eliminated?"

"What happens to your later drafts then?"

"What does that matter?" Li Luo chuckled. "Novels are novels, reality is reality. Sometimes situations might be similar, but they don't have to match exactly."

"Even if Aunt Yuan fails the challenge, I can still let Mo Qinghan soar triumphantly in the novel."

"Even if Aunt Yuan fails, she can still join the competition inside my book—who says you have to be a singer to step on stage?"

But Li Luo was just saying that.

Since Yin Zhicheng had already seized the opportunity to ensure Yuan Wanqing could compete fairly, without malicious manipulation of votes, it was worth a try.

If they could ride the massive traffic of a show like I Am a Singer, not only would Yuan Wanqing's career reach a new level.

Li Luo's I Am Really Not a Star would also gain massive exposure, bringing highly substantial returns.

"Oh by the way," speaking of his cooperation with Yuan Wanqing, Li Luo suddenly remembered something. "I have to go to Changning in August for a writer's salon. I'm letting you know ahead of time."

"When?" Yan Zhusheng tilted her head and asked.

"August 14th to the 10th is also a weekend."

"Can I go?"

"No way. You'd better just stay here," Li Luo shook his head. "This time we've also invited Xi Xi's family—we're all going on a trip to Changning together."

"Oh." At this, Yan Zhusheng immediately rolled his eyes, clearly thinking up something in his head.

Li Luo added, "I was wondering if we could do a three-way promotional collaboration again, like we did for New Year's Day—with Aunt Yuan, Qidian, and my book."

"There are copyright issues with 'I Am a Singer.' Qidian probably won't make it easy."

"But if it's just a simple tie-in for Yuan Wanqing's new album, shouldn't that be fine?"

Yan Zhusheng nodded thoughtfully. "I'll have to ask Mom."

"Ask after we get back from the class trip. It's not urgent."

Yan Zhusheng nodded obediently, but already had an idea in mind; his mood lifted instantly, and he casually placed his other foot on Li Luo's lap.

"Li Luo, you..."

At that moment, Ying Chanxi's voice came from outside, and the next second the door swung open.

Yan Zhusheng quickly pulled his feet back, but he was too slow to get off Li Luo's bed—he was caught red-handed by Ying Chanxi.

"Yan Zhusheng is here too?" Ying Chanxi smiled.

"What's up?" Li Luo feigned intense typing, only stopping his keystrokes after finishing the sentence, then turning to ask.

"I came to remind you to pack for tomorrow's class trip," Ying Chanxi walked to the bedside, standing between Li Luo and Yan Zhusheng. "Yan Zhusheng, go pack too—don't wait until tomorrow morning to scramble."

"Oh." Seeing Ying Chanxi enter, Yan Zhusheng no longer lingered—he nodded and obediently left the master bedroom to pack his own class trip luggage.

Ying Chanxi then scanned the master bedroom, picked up Li Luo's suitcase from the corner, spread it open on the floor, and took out several shirts and pants from the wardrobe to pack for him.

"Uh... I can do it myself," Li Luo said, suddenly embarrassed.

But Ying Chanxi pushed him back down into his chair: "Just keep writing. I'll pack everything for you."

She then crouched on the floor, carefully arranging each garment and adding essential items.

Ying Chanxi prepared everything Li Luo hadn't even thought of—like a devoted wife packing for her husband's business trip.

Watching her focused face as she crouched on the floor, Li Luo grew momentarily dazed.

Even when he looked away and refocused on the computer screen, he still felt slightly distracted.

As Ying Chanxi pulled out a few pairs of Li Luo's underwear from the wardrobe, her cheeks flushed slightly.

Seeing the Pikachu and Doraemon prints on them, she felt both shy and amused.

The thought that Li Luo was probably wearing one of these right now—and that she herself wore similar ones—made her even more flustered.

But unlike girls' underwear, her own were neatly folded—whether Pikachu or Doraemon, they looked perfectly healthy.

As for Li Luo's... they were a bit twisted.

Blushing, Ying Chanxi placed the underwear neatly inside, then whispered, "Will there be toiletries at the farmstay?"

"There are disposables—no need to bring toothbrush or toothpaste," Li Luo replied.

"Then I'll pack your face wash," Ying Chanxi said, walking into the bathroom, but soon returned empty-handed. "Wait until tomorrow morning—you wash your face first thing, then I'll put it in your suitcase."

"Remember to wash your face every morning when you get to the farmstay."

"Don't slack off, got it?"

"Got it," Li Luo nodded, teasingly smiling. "You're turning into a housewife."

"Hmph," Ying Chanxi tapped his shoulder. "Don't joke with me—I'm still mad right now."

"Really?" Li Luo chuckled. "Didn't we agree you'd go to Changning with me next month?"

"That's just an afterthought," Ying Chanxi's lips curled happily, though she still said, "And you'll be busy with that salon event—you won't have much time to hang out with me anyway."

"What salon is more important than hanging out with you?" Li Luo waved his hand. "I'll center everything around you—do whatever you want."

"That's not necessary..." Ying Chanxi, worried she'd distract him from his real work, felt embarrassed. "Your salon event is important—finish it properly before spending time with me."

After all, Li Luo had told her this writer's salon was tied to that website's selection of Grandmaster Writers.

Ying Chanxi didn't fully understand, but she knew what it meant when royalty split changed from 50-50 to 30-70.

Based on Li Luo's current royalties, that single change could mean over a million yuan in annual profit.

On matters like this, Ying Chanxi knew priorities well—she absolutely didn't want her small whim to ruin Li Luo's big opportunity.

"Have you asked your dad?" Li Luo asked. "Will he come to Changning too?"

"Mm-hmm," Ying Chanxi nodded happily. "Dad said he has a project on the 15th next month—it was originally assigned to someone else to handle in Changning. But since we're going there for vacation, he's decided to take it over himself and go along with us."

"Good," Li Luo nodded, unconsciously ruffling her hair. "Then you two go together."

They chatted a while longer; Ying Chanxi double-checked Li Luo's luggage for omissions, then left the room without disturbing his writing, only reminding him to sleep early.

But Li Luo still habitually typed deep into the night.

Around eleven p. m., he stretched in his chair, then went to the bathroom for a shower.

The moment he lay down, the bedroom door quietly opened.

Xu Youyu poked her head in, peeked at Li Luo on the bed, and grinned mischievously.

"Why are you here?" Li Luo sighed, rubbing his head as he sat up. "Aren't you going to sleep?"

"I just finished typing," Xu Youyu strolled in, hands behind her back, leaning over the bed. "Thinking that someone's leaving me tomorrow makes me heartbroken."

"You can come too—you don't have class."

"I won't go," Xu Youyu chuckled. "I don't know anyone in your class. So you've got to make it up to me."

"Just say what you want outright," Li Luo sighed. "I need to sleep early—tomorrow's early."

"Nothing much," Xu Youyu grinned, pulling two wine glasses from behind her back and clinking them together with a clear chime. "Have a drink with me before bed? Alcohol helps you sleep."

"... Who told you alcohol helps you sleep?"

"I did," Xu Youyu patted her chest proudly.

Looking at the undulations beneath the thin nightgown, Li Luo fell silent for several seconds.

"Just one cup?"

"Just one cup."