Chapter 314

This farmstay's overall layout forms a "pin" character.

The three "mouths" are three artificial fish ponds, fed by mountain streams; the northern pond raises goldfish, perfect for idly feeding them.

The left pond is dedicated to edible fish species, serving as a fishing area where you can fish for free.

The right pond is for boating, with several small boats available for passengers.

After touring the farmstay and getting a general sense of the layout, they were taken to the central dining area, near the northern goldfish pond.

From the dining hall's windows, one could see long, shimmering red carp swimming back and forth.

One student pulled out a packet of small bread they carried, pinched off a few crumbs, and tossed them down—immediately drawing a swarm of carp scrambling for food.

Yan Zhusheng had no interest in the carp; after one glance, she turned her gaze away and fixed her eyes on Li Luo's water bottle.

When she saw him take a sip, she finally smiled, her eyes narrowing happily, her feet beneath the chair gently swinging.

"Zhusheng, what are we doing this afternoon?" Xu Yinghuan asked from Yan Zhusheng's other side. "Fishing is boring, and feeding goldfish can be done anytime. There's a chicken coop and duck pen down the southern corridor—let's go check them out."

"I heard the boys say they're heading to the e-sports room later—they've got arcade machines and stuff."

"Jin Yuting and the others asked if I'm going to play mahjong. Didn't you say you learned how to play mahjong during the New Year? Want to go together?"

As Xu Yinghuan chattered in her ear, Yan Zhusheng shook her head vigorously: "You go have fun—don't worry about me."

"Then what about you?"

"I'm sticking with Li Luo."

"If he goes off with those boys to play games, are you going to follow him too?" Xu Yinghuan said, exasperated. "We girls need our own space too. Don't just cling to him all the time."

"Huanhuan, you talk too much." Yan Zhusheng glanced at the dishes just brought to the table, picked up her chopsticks, and placed a spring roll on Xu Yinghuan's plate. "Eat more—shut your mouth."

Xu Yinghuan: "..."

"Li Luo, what are you doing this afternoon?" Yan Zhusheng turned to ask Li Luo.

"After lunch, it's free time. I need to stroll around every area first and see what everyone's up to." Li Luo picked up a spoon and ladled a portion of steamed fish onto Yan Zhusheng's bowl, then added, "Once I confirm no one's wandering off, I'll decide what to do."

"Then I'll go with you."

"Got it. Eat first."

They had four large round tables total: three for the students, one for the parents—perfectly balanced.

The people at Li Luo's table were all old acquaintances; seeing him serve Yan Zhusheng food, they exchanged knowing glances and pretended not to notice.

When the meal was nearly finished, Li Luo rose with his cup and went to toast the other tables.

Of course, with parents and teachers present, he only drank soft drinks—but the gesture was properly observed.

He also casually asked what everyone planned to do in the afternoon, to help with his later patrol.

After lunch, Li Luo reiterated the safety guidelines, then announced the group was dismissed.

Under Lin Xiuhong and Li Guohong's guidance, the parents showed no intention of following the children; the male parents were dragged off by Li Guohong to fish, while the female parents joined Lin Xiuhong at a mahjong table, heading toward the southwest mahjong room.

Kong Jun and Ding Xiang, meanwhile, planned to stroll around first and observe what the students were doing—just like Li Luo's idea.

After all, they were teachers; even though Li Luo's family had organized this outing, at this moment, they still fulfilled their duty as educators.

Xu Yinghuan glanced between Yan Zhusheng and Li Luo, then, called over by Jin Yuting and the others, said: "If you're really not coming, I'm going then?"

"Go ahead." Yan Zhusheng waved at her. "Bye, Huanhuan—have fun."

Xu Yinghuan: "... You really don't care about me at all? You've broken my heart."

Abandoned without hesitation by Yan Zhusheng, Xu Yinghuan burst into tears and immediately dashed off with Jin Yuting and the others to play mahjong.

Yan Zhusheng glanced at Li Luo, quietly edged closer, her wrist brushing lightly against his hand—then pulled away, then brushed against it again.

Li Luo clearly understood her intent; he sighed, glanced toward the direction Kong Jun and Ding Xiang had left, confirmed the parents' destinations, saw everyone gradually dispersing, then took Yan Zhusheng's wrist.

A flash of joy crossed Yan Zhusheng's eyes, but she quickly suppressed it, lowering her head obediently as Li Luo led her by the wrist, walking slowly down the southern corridor.

This corridor lay between the two fish ponds on either side, flanked by chicken coops, duck pens, and even a rabbit enclosure.

As Li Luo and Yan Zhusheng walked this way, they saw almost no traces of Class Eight students—but easily spotted one person.

Releasing Yan Zhusheng's hand, Li Luo approached a chicken coop and saw Lu Jiahao asking a staff member for some chicken feed, then cheerfully scattering it into the coop.

Watching a large flock of chickens clucking and rushing out to peck at the ground, Lu Jiahao wore a satisfied smile.

"Didn't know you liked chickens," Li Luo said, glancing at the coop—then immediately recoiled two steps from the stench, pulling Yan Zhusheng back to keep her away.

Lu Jiahao, however, didn't mind at all; a rare smile appeared on his face: "Every animal has its adorable side—you just need to find it."

"Where's the cuteness in chickens?"

"I like how they peck—it's fascinating."

"I prefer their legs," Li Luo said after a glance.

"No matter what part you like, if you have eyes that see beauty, you'll find the charm in animals."

"No, no, no." Li Luo shook his head. "I just think chicken legs taste better—tender, not dry."

Lu Jiahao: "..."

"Cough. Keep playing—I won't disturb you." Li Luo chuckled twice and immediately pulled Yan Zhusheng away.

Taking two more steps forward, nearing the farmstay's main entrance, Li Luo led Yan Zhusheng left, toward the east-facing billiards room.

Pushing the door open, they saw six billiard tables—only one occupied.

And it was a boy and a girl: Fang Chen and Ren Zheng.

"You're not holding the cue right—you have to do it like this. You're so clumsy."

Fang Chen, seeing how Ren Zheng gripped the cue, burst into laughter, then picked up his own cue and demonstrated a few times.

But Ren Zheng still couldn't get it, swinging wildly—only to be thoroughly outplayed by Fang Chen: "Can't you just let me win once?"

"How can you let someone win at billiards? If you don't show your real skill, aren't you disrespecting her?" Fang Chen said solemnly.

Ren Zheng rolled her eyes at this, then spotted Li Luo and Yan Zhusheng at the door; her cheeks flushed slightly, and she quickly greeted them: "Monitor, Zhusheng, you two here to play billiards too?"

"We're just wandering around," Li Luo said, releasing Yan Zhusheng's wrist and stepping inside.

Yan Zhusheng trotted behind him, casually plucked a cue from the wall, and handed it to Li Luo.

"Perfect," Fang Chen chuckled. "Ren Zheng dragged me here to play pool. I'd already made plans with Zhu Yufei and the others to play LOL. Playing with her's boring—how about you and me, Class Monitor?"

Li Luo glanced at Ren Zheng, whose face was dark with exasperation, and laughed. "Sure, I'll play—but not with you."

"Huh?" Fang Chen blinked. "Then who's playing?"

"Let Yan Zhusheng and Ren Zheng play. We'll be the assistants," Li Luo said cheerfully.

"Is Yan Zhusheng really good at pool?" Fang Chen asked curiously.

"Not good at all," Yan Zhusheng shook her head, took the cue back from Li Luo, and clumsily struck the ball. The white ball rolled crookedly across the table.

Fang Chen stared, utterly speechless. "Class Monitor, if they play at this level, I feel like the whole afternoon's gone."

"Relax," Li Luo stepped forward, gathered the balls, rearranged them, picked up the white ball, placed it at the break spot, and waved to Yan Zhusheng.

Yan Zhusheng obediently walked over, stood in front of Li Luo, raised the cue, but didn't strike—instead, she turned her head to look at him.

Li Luo nodded toward Fang Chen, signaling him to pay attention, then bent down, pressed his chest against Yan Zhusheng's back, wrapped one arm around her, and steadied her cue hand.

With his other hand, he took her left hand and guided her to position the cue properly.

After repeating this a few times until her form was correct, Li Luo pushed hard.

The cue shot out like a dragon, instantly striking the white ball's soft, plump rear—*boom! *—the colored balls scattered.

Unfortunately, luck was bad—no ball went in.

Li Luo released Yan Zhusheng, raised his hand toward the two across the table, and said, "Your turn."

Fang Chen was stunned—he hadn't expected this kind of play—and turned to look at Ren Zheng.

Ren Zheng's cheeks were already flushed red; she hadn't imagined Li Luo and Yan Zhusheng would go this far.

Yet she didn't refuse. Instead, she shuffled nervously to the pool table, clutching her cue, glanced at Fang Chen, then immediately looked away.

"Hurry up," Li Luo leaned against the table, arms crossed, grinning. "Just one game. We've got other places to go—don't waste our time."

"Y-yes, yes…" Ren Zheng nodded quickly, set up her stance—but like Yan Zhusheng before her, she hesitated, unable to bring herself to strike.

Seeing this, Fang Chen glanced at Li Luo, who nodded. He stepped beside Ren Zheng, swallowed hard.

"Want me to help?"

"... Mm."

So Fang Chen copied Li Luo's earlier movements, half-hugging Ren Zheng, one hand steadying the cue, the other guiding its position, adjusting her angle and stance.

He struck!

The colored ball sank cleanly into the pocket.

Ren Zheng jumped up in delight, patted Fang Chen's shoulder, and praised him: "So good! It actually went in!"

"You don't think it's because of who?" Fang Chen's ears turned slightly red, flattered, and he rubbed his nose with pride.

Once both sides were warmed up, they went back and forth, battling fiercely across the pool table.

After about ten minutes, the match ended.

Fang Chen and Ren Zheng's team edged ahead, winning the round. The two excitedly slapped hands; Ren Zheng's face glowed bright red with joy.

Li Luo smiled, handed the cue to Yan Zhusheng to put away, then waved goodbye: "We're off. You two enjoy."

After leaving the pool room, Yan Zhusheng glanced at Li Luo and whispered, "Why did you hold back? You could've won."

"Isn't losing fun?" Li Luo grinned.

"Not really," Yan Zhusheng shook her head, wishing they could play longer.

Now that they'd left the pool room, she still felt a lingering sense of unfinished fun.

But Li Luo had only intervened to ease the tension—mission accomplished—he now stepped back, leading Yan Zhusheng westward, strolling toward the mahjong room.

This mahjong room was designed in classical style, with latticed windows allowing a view through the glass.

Li Luo brought Yan Zhusheng to the room where Lin Xiuhong and the others were, and went in to greet them.

Yan Zhusheng politely said, "Aunties, hello," then casually poured tea for Lin Xiuhong.

After a few casual words, Li Luo and Yan Zhusheng left that mahjong room and found the one where Xu Yinghuan and the others were.

Compared to Lin Xiuhong's group, who played swiftly and decisively, this group played painfully slowly.

Just deciding which tile to discard took forever—they'd spend ages deliberating before finally choosing.

Xu Yinghuan saw them enter and beamed, immediately beckoning Yan Zhusheng to her side: "Zhusheng, help me—what should I play?"

"Play a one-dot," Yan Zhusheng glanced once and replied.

The other three, seeing Li Luo and Yan Zhusheng enter, greeted them as well.

Jin Yuting watched the pair walk in together, her eyes gleaming.

Zhu Huiyan and Chen Zhongqi, meanwhile, were already firm fans of Li Luo and Yan Zhusheng as a couple—long ago recruited into Yan's faction by Xu Yinghuan.

Now seeing them enter together, they quietly began fangirling.

Especially when they saw Li Luo pick up a candy from the table, peel it, slip it into Yan Zhusheng's mouth first, then peel one for himself—the girls' eyes sparkled, they exchanged glances, and all saw the same amused smile in each other's eyes.

But under Yan Zhusheng's guidance, Xu Yinghuan dominated, easily winning three rounds straight—after which Zhu Huiyan and Chen Zhongqi begged her not to help anymore.

Yan Zhusheng found it dull and pulled Li Luo away.

After they left, the mahjong room erupted in hushed chatter.

Li Luo glanced at Yan Zhusheng and teased, "Your mahjong skills are pretty good, huh? Then why did you keep asking me to teach you during the New Year?"

"It's all because you taught me so well during the New Year," Yan Zhusheng said seriously, face composed. "And Xu Yinghuan and the others aren't good—Lin Yi is."

"So everything you say is right, is it?" Li Luo laughed, pinching her cheek, then headed toward the fishing area.

Yan Zhusheng walked beside him, her small hand sneaking into his palm—only for Li Luo to immediately let go.

"Don't mess around," Li Luo warned. "We're almost at the fishing spot—what if my dad sees?"

"Oh." Yan Zhusheng nodded. "So it's okay if no one sees?"

"That's not okay—good friends don't just hold hands randomly."

"I and Yinghuan are good friends," Yan Zhusheng said seriously. "We often hold hands when we walk together. Why can't we do it with you? Li Luo, are you discriminating against boys?"

Li Luo: "...?"

"Stop with your twisted logic."

"It's perfectly logical."

"I think your butt is itching."

"Then hit me."

Seeing Yan Zhusheng obediently turn sideways and present her rear to him, Li Luo's eyelid twitched twice; he immediately grabbed her hand and headed straight for the fishing area.

Only when they were nearly at the pond's edge did Li Luo release her hand, spotting several figures seated beside the pond.

Seeing Li Guohong's figure fishing under the pavilion, Yan Zhusheng stopped pestering him and quietly followed beside Li Luo all the way to the fishing zone.

Li Guohong heard footsteps behind him, turned around, and laughed: "Why did you two come over?"

"To check on your catch," Li Luo said cheerfully, then tugged at the buckets beside the other parents and Li Guoru. "It's been almost half an hour—how come you haven't caught a single fish, Dad? The uncles have already gotten bites."

"What do you know?" Li Guohong's face darkened. "Fishing tests patience. A calm mindset is most important. It's barely been half an hour—what's the rush?"

"Do you have extra rods? Give us one," Li Luo asked the attendant.

The attendant nodded and immediately brought over a rod.

Fishing here was about ambiance, not gear—no fancy equipment needed, and the fish were small, mostly grass carp.

If you caught one, the kitchen could cook it for dinner—savoring a fish you caught yourself.

Seeing the two take rods, Li Guohong exclaimed in surprise: "You two are fishing too? Aren't you going to play with your classmates?"

"I'm just letting her experience it—ten minutes and we're gone," Li Luo said. Already, Yan Zhusheng had fetched two small stools and a tiny bucket from the attendant and scampered over to sit beside Li Luo at the shore.

Li Luo handed her the rod, taught her how to cast, and once she succeeded, sat back down.

"That won't work," Li Guohong shook his head. "You cast too close. Fish near the shore are scared off by our voices—they won't bite."

"We're just here to feel the atmosphere. Even if we don't catch anything, at least we're sharing your bad luck, Dad."

"You say that," Li Guohong snorted. "Watch—I'll catch one any minute."

The other parents, watching the father-son exchange, nodded silently to themselves.

Especially Lu Zhangyuan, who, after savoring Li Luo and Li Guohong's interaction, quietly filed it away in his mind.

No wonder he raised a child as outstanding as Li Luo—this seemingly ordinary conversation was full of subtlety.

The easygoing talk, the playful teasing and banter between father and son, made them seem more like friends—making the sixteen-year-old Li Luo appear far more mature.

On this point, the other parents all silently agreed: they needed to learn more from Li Luo's parents.

Yan Zhusheng sat quietly beside Li Luo, saying little, just gazing calmly at the pond's surface.

Less than ten minutes later, she saw her float bobbing slightly and immediately shook Li Luo's arm: "Is a fish biting?"

"Looks like it," Li Luo, who had been chatting with the other parents, turned to look. He picked up the rod and handed it to Yan Zhusheng. "Hold it tight—I'll get the net."

By the time Li Luo received the net from the attendant, Yan Zhusheng was already gripping the rod tightly, struggling against the fish hooked below.

Seeing this, Li Guohong bounced excitedly beside them, acting like a pond commander: "Don't pull too hard! Don't pull too hard! Keep the line taut, tire it out—wait till it's exhausted."

But Li Luo simply said: "Just pull the rod backward—I'll net it."

Yan Zhusheng obeyed. Since her cast had landed close to shore, she only had to step back two or three paces before the fish was dragged to the edge.

Li Luo swept the net effortlessly and scooped the grass carp into the small bucket.

"Whoa!" Li Guohong leaned over to inspect it. "That's got to be two or three catties—big enough, though not huge."

"Who cares how big? It's caught," Li Luo chuckled. "Dad, why haven't you caught anything yet?"

"Shut up," Li Guohong glared at him, then sat back down grumpily. "Wait—you'll eat my fish tonight."

"Then I'll wait," Li Luo grinned.

But then Yan Zhusheng walked over to Li Guohong with her small bucket and dumped the freshly caught grass carp into his bucket.

Li Guohong blinked. Yan Zhusheng whispered: "Uncle, I'm leaving this fish with you for now—it'll bring you good luck. You'll catch one this afternoon, I'm sure."

"Oh, okay," Li Guohong looked at the extra fish in his bucket. Though not his own catch, it was still a comfort. "Thanks, Zhusheng. Go play—you don't need to stay here."

"Mm-hmm," Yan Zhusheng nodded happily. Li Luo bid farewell to the parents, then led Yan Zhusheng away from the fishing zone.

The two headed north toward the e-sports room. On the way, Yan Zhusheng glanced back at the fishing area, now nearly out of sight, then lightly brushed her wrist against Li Luo's hand.

The next second, her hand slipped into his palm.

"This is what good friends do when they walk together," Yan Zhusheng explained seriously. "I always do this with Yinghuan."

In the mahjong room, Xu Yinghuan sneezed repeatedly, lost seven rounds in a row, and cursed: "What terrible luck I have today! My hand is so bad!"