Chapter 334: I'm Washing My Hair, Just Come Right In

He had to admit that Li Luo's earlier thoughts and judgment had indeed been correct.

Getting up to pick up a set of clean clothes from the bed for Yan Zhusheng, Li Luo instinctively glanced at the beautiful scenery reflected on the frosted glass.

Yan Zhusheng's long legs were truly like exquisite treasures, their perfect proportions as if precisely sculpted by the heavens.

Especially since this was through frosted glass, and it still couldn't resist the charm of her legs at all.

If he really had to watch those beautiful legs swaying before his eyes every day, it would truly be an enormous test.

Li Luo picked up the clean clothes, walked to the bathroom door, knocked, and said toward the inside, "I brought them for you, open the door and take them."

"I'm washing my hair, I can't open my eyes," Yan Zhusheng said. "Can you just put them on the towel rack for me?"

Li Luo: "...?"

Just put them on the towel rack...

Doesn't that mean he would have to walk into the bathroom?!

Li Luo simply flipped through his memory palace briefly and immediately recalled where the towel rack in the bathroom was located.

Upon entering the bathroom, directly ahead was the sink and mirror.

On the right was the toilet, and on the left was the shower area.

The towel rack was fixed to the wall between the sink and the shower area.

If Li Luo just walked straight over, he would absolutely be able to see Yan Zhusheng showering in the shower area!

What on earth is this girl up to... Does she really think he's a saint?

Li Luo looked utterly speechless, then said toward the inside, "Then call me after you finish washing your hair, and I'll bring them over to you."

"Oh..." Yan Zhusheng responded.

But just hearing her voice, it somehow felt like her tone carried a hint of disappointment... or rather, a sense that her scheme had failed.

Li Luo took the clothes in his hand, put them back on the bed, and then suddenly realized something.

"I remember when you came to my room tonight, you didn't bring a change of clothes, right?" Li Luo couldn't help but ask. "This set of clothes doesn't look like the one you were wearing tonight either."

"I went back to Mom's place to get clothes," Yan Zhusheng said honestly. "Otherwise I wouldn't have anything to change into after showering."

Hearing this, Li Luo's face immediately darkened: "Then why didn't you just shower over there? And since you already went back, why come back to my side?"

"Mom wasn't there, so I came back again."

Hearing her say that, Li Luo suddenly thought of Yuan Wanqing being together with Ying Zhicheng.

Logically speaking.

At night, after dinner, Ying Zhicheng should have gone to find Yuan Wanqing. Didn't Yan Zhusheng see them in the suite?

Thinking this, Li Luo couldn't help but ask, "When did you go back?"

"After using the bathroom in your room, I stayed a while, then went back to grab some clothes," Yan Zhusheng answered from behind the frosted glass.

That doesn't make sense... Li Luo rubbed his chin, then suddenly thought of a possibility, so he asked again, "What's the room number for you and Auntie Yuan?"

"2008, why?"

"Nothing, just asking." Li Luo said that verbally, but in his heart he suddenly understood.

He still remembered clearly—when he was invited up by Ying Zhicheng earlier, the room card was taken out by Ying Zhicheng, and the door opened was room 2009!

Right next door to 2008!

Good, good, good, worthy of Uncle Ying indeed.

Li Luo's mouth twitched. To have a rendezvous with Auntie Yuan, Ying Zhicheng had actually booked rooms at both the Jinjiang Hotel and the Quanji Hotel.

Earlier when they ran into each other at the elevator going downstairs, it was probably because Ying Zhicheng planned to head back to the Quanji Hotel side, and Yuan Wanqing had seen him off downstairs.

Thinking this way, Uncle Ying's experience was truly rich and seasoned. Li Luo felt ashamed of his own inferiority and vowed to learn humbly and put it into practice in the future.

Another ten-odd minutes passed.

Li Luo sat back down at the computer and quietly focused on writing.

The sound of water in the bathroom also stopped.

Not long after, the bathroom door opened, and Yan Zhusheng stepped out wrapped in only a bath towel that covered her body, revealing a pair of stunningly beautiful long legs, wearing slippers as she came out.

Li Luo instinctively turned his head to look, and his heart immediately skipped a beat. He hurriedly said, "Why did you come out just like that? Didn't I tell you to call me after you finished showering so I could bring you your clothes?"

"Oh, I forgot." Yan Zhusheng blinked, then sat down on the chair beside Li Luo, completely without any self-awareness, shaking her wet long hair, and said to Li Luo, "Li Luo, help me blow-dry my hair."

"Can you put your clothes on first?"

"Oh, alright." Hearing him say that, Yan Zhusheng nodded and reached out to untie her bath towel.

"Stop! Stop, stop, stop!" Seeing this, Li Luo immediately raised his hand to stop her, then let out a deep sigh, got up, and went behind Yan Zhusheng. "I'll blow-dry it for you, just don't move around."

While obediently helping Yan Zhusheng blow-dry her hair, Li Luo's gaze would occasionally fall on her slender legs, white as ivory.

As for other places... uh... although there was still a slight little curve, not completely flat like the ground, Li Luo still instinctively ignored those two points.

One could only say the potential was great, still awaiting growth.

After finishing blow-drying her hair, Li Luo took out his own change of clothes from the suitcase, headed toward the bathroom, and reminded her along the way, "Remember to change your clothes while I'm showering."

"Oh."

"You should still go back to your mom's side later, so she won't worry when she doesn't see you."

"It's fine." Yan Zhusheng shook her head. "Mom won't be back until very late. The master bedroom and the second bedroom in the suite are separate. I'll just go back early tomorrow."

Hearing her say this, Li Luo was a bit helpless, but he didn't say anything more, turned around, and walked into the bathroom.

Looking at the undergarments left on the towel rack, Li Luo twitched the corner of his mouth, feeling that this scene seemed oddly familiar—only the size and curves were a bit different.

Meanwhile, Yan Zhusheng outside the bathroom, watching Li Luo walk into the bathroom, took off her bath towel and obediently changed into her clothes.

Then she climbed onto the bed, looking curiously through the frosted glass at the inside of the bathroom.

Watching Li Luo take off his clothes, walk into the shower area, and turn on the showerhead to start bathing, Yan Zhusheng watched with great interest, occasionally sneaking a glance downward, then blushing slightly and looking away.

But after a few seconds, she couldn't help but steal another look.

Finally, she couldn't resist her curiosity, quietly crawling to the edge of the bed, pressing her hands against the floor, trying to sneak a peek through the bottom transparent glass.

But Li Luo, still in the bathroom, spotted the dark shadow outside and the long hair resting against the outside of the transparent glass—he immediately covered the glass below with his hand and shouted out: "Yan Zhusheng! What are you doing? Get back to bed right now!"

Caught red-handed, Yan Zhusheng immediately retreated sheepishly to the bed, feeling a small pang of regret.

But since she'd been discovered, she no longer dared to sneak another look, and obediently lay back down.

When Li Luo stepped out of the bathroom, Yan Zhusheng appeared to be asleep.

Walking to the bedside, Li Luo frowned, lifted her arm, and said: "According to foreign experiments, when a person is asleep and their arm is lifted, they unconsciously tense up to maintain that lifted position."

As he spoke, he released his grip.

This time, Yan Zhusheng had learned her lesson—her arm instantly dropped from midair.

But whether it was because she feared the arm would hurt if it fell too fast, she clearly pulled back slightly just before it hit the bed, avoiding a direct impact.

Seeing this, Li Luo was speechless—he pinched her cheek and shook it twice: "Stop pretending to sleep. Wake up."

"Mmm…" Yan Zhusheng was forced to open her eyes, "Li Luo, you woke me up."

"You think the same trick works twice?" Li Luo said, exasperated.

"Didn't you use it twice too?" Yan Zhusheng pouted. "I didn't even keep my arm raised this time—why are you still saying I'm faking sleep?"

"At least pretend better," Li Luo rolled his eyes, then sat on the chair, picked up the hairdryer, and prepared to dry his hair.

Seeing this, Yan Zhusheng immediately scrambled to the foot of the bed, snatched the hairdryer from his hand, and said: "Let me dry it for you?"

"Fine." Li Luo accepted gladly, letting Yan Zhusheng do as she pleased, enjoying her service.

After Yan Zhusheng finished drying his hair, they both lay on the bed, and Li Luo no longer mentioned sending her back to her own room.

After all, saying it would be pointless… Li Luo had accepted reality.

Besides, Yuan Wanqing probably didn't even know her precious daughter would be spending the entire night in Li Luo's room.

After Li Luo had finished briefing with Ying Zhicheng and Yuan Wanqing and was escorted out of the room, he hadn't seen Ying Zhicheng show any intention of returning.

He seriously doubted whether the two of them might just stay overnight in Suite 2009.

"Li Luo, what are you thinking about?"

After the lights were turned off, in the pitch-black room, Yan Zhusheng rolled closer to Li Luo and whispered:

"Nothing much. Go to sleep."

"Hug me."

"We're just good friends."

"Yeah, this is a celebration hug."

"What's there to celebrate?"

"Mom successfully challenged the house. Let's celebrate."

"... Why are you telling me this now?"

"I forgot earlier."

…

Morning.

Li Luo felt he had dreamed.

He dreamed he flew into the sky, drifting among clouds—but these clouds weren't as soft as they looked; instead, they felt smooth and fine like silk, their texture tender, like premium fabric.

Then he dreamed he fell off a cliff, pinned beneath Five Fingers Mountain like the Great Sage Equaling Heaven, crushing him until he could barely breathe.

Until, at one moment, he suddenly opened his eyes—and realized he truly was being crushed.

"You're awake?" Yan Zhusheng lay fully atop him, clutching a lock of his hair, looking like she was about to do something mischievous.

"What are you doing?" Li Luo pointed at the hair in her hand.

"For your facial massage," Yan Zhusheng blurted out nonsense, then pretended to gently stroke his face with the hair, "Comfortable?"

"..." Li Luo twitched his lips, then asked, "Why are you lying on top of me this early? I just dreamed I was being crushed to death."

"Oh, sorry." Yan Zhusheng reached out and patted Li Luo's chest, "Better now?"

"Thanks a lot… You'd better get off me first."

Yan Zhusheng obediently climbed off him, then said: "Want to go for a morning run?"

"We're on vacation—do we really have to run in the morning?" Li Luo sometimes wanted to relax; he'd been kept up till half the night by Yan Zhusheng, and he was still a little sleepy.

"Come run with me," Yan Zhusheng tugged his arm. "After we run, I'll go back. Aren't you planning to go out with Chanxi today?"

"Yeah, I have to sign the contract with Wen Yue in the morning, then meet her in the afternoon to visit attractions."

"I'll be accompanying Mom to her events today, so I won't bother you," Yan Zhusheng said. "So, will you come run with me?"

"... Fine."

With Yan Zhusheng saying that, Li Luo couldn't refuse.

So they got up, tidied up, went downstairs, walked out the front door of the Jinjiang Hotel, and began jogging along the nearby streets.

When they stepped out, it was already around seven-thirty in the morning.

After running for about ten minutes, Li Luo's phone suddenly vibrated in his pocket.

He pulled it out and saw it was Ying Chanxi calling.

"Hello? What's up?"

"Li Luo," Ying Chanxi's voice came through the phone, puzzled. "I knocked on your door and got no answer. Are you awake? Or are you not even in your room?"

"Oh, I—I'm out jogging," Li Luo said, realizing Ying Chanxi was right outside his door—he broke into a cold sweat, grateful he'd agreed to go jogging with Yan Zhusheng.

"Why didn't you call me to join you?" Ying Chanxi complained. "I came straight to find you for breakfast as soon as I woke up."

"Cough… I forgot. I'll be right back," Li Luo hurriedly said. "Wait for me at the restaurant on the second floor—we'll have breakfast together."

"Alright, I'll wait for you there."

After hanging up the phone, Li Luo turned to Yan Zhusheng beside him.

Although she hadn't heard what Ying Chanxi said on the other end, Yan Zhusheng could guess roughly what had happened, so she pursed her lips and then said sweetly, "Then go ahead—I'll head back to my room too."

The two jogged back to the hotel; Li Luo took the elevator to the second floor, while Yan Zhusheng went straight to the twentieth floor.

As soon as Yan Zhusheng stepped onto the twentieth floor, the elevator doors opened, and she saw Yuan Wanqing and Ying Zhicheng waiting by the entrance.

All three froze for a moment.

Fortunately, Yuan Wanqing had learned from her mistake this time—after leaving her room, she had made no overly intimate gestures toward Ying Zhicheng.

So when she suddenly saw her daughter appear in the elevator lobby, Yuan Wanqing blinked in surprise, then asked, "Why are you back from outside?"

"I went for a morning run," Yan Zhusheng said, stepping out of the elevator and glancing at Ying Zhicheng. "Good morning, Uncle."

"Hmm… Good morning," Ying Zhicheng nodded to her, then stepped into the elevator and said to Yuan Wanqing, "I'll be going then."

"Alright, see you," Yuan Wanqing waved, then turned to her daughter. "Shall we go have breakfast?"

"Have the staff bring it up," Yan Zhusheng whispered. "I'm a bit tired after running—I want to rest."

"Fine."

"What is Uncle Ying doing here?" Yan Zhusheng asked as she followed Yuan Wanqing toward their room.

"He came by on the way for a little matter to discuss," Yuan Wanqing replied vaguely, then changed the subject. "Are you going to visit Li Luo today?"

Yan Zhusheng shook her head. "I'm staying with Mom today."

"I see. Well then."

…

On the second-floor restaurant, Li Luo met Ying Chanxi, who had been waiting; the two ate a buffet breakfast together, then joined Li Luo's parents.

Attorney Tian arrived early by high-speed rail in Changning and waited for Li Luo's group in the lobby of the Wenxue Group headquarters building.

Under the hospitality of the copyright department staff, they were taken up to the fourth floor and seated in a reception room.

As originally agreed, today was meant to be a mere formality—just signing the finalized contract.

But after chatting with Qianzhou last night and receiving some insight, Li Luo briefly consulted Attorney Tian again and requested adding several clauses, mostly related to this realist-themed writing contest.

These included support for the new book, preferential treatment in contest evaluation, and other provisions.

The head of the copyright department was unfazed by such last-minute changes; the requests didn't seem unreasonable.

After all, official-collaboration writing contests were mostly launched to satisfy higher-ups' demands and meant little to most authors on the platform.

Still, the copyright department head said, "This section needs approval from the operations department before it can be finalized."

"If possible, we'd like to hold a quick meeting with operations staff this morning."

"If everything goes well, we'll draft a revised contract this afternoon and sign it again in the evening?"

After confirming mutual agreement, they reached a verbal understanding and planned to return in the evening.

But since they were already here, Editor Qianzhou offered to show Li Luo's group around the Wenxue Group headquarters building.

Attorney Tian expressed strong interest and tagged along with Li Luo for the tour.

When they reached the editorial department, Attorney Tian whispered, "Excuse me, which one is Fuchen the editor?"

"What? Do you know our editors?" Qianzhou asked, surprised.

"Ahem… I'm not talented, but I've written online novels in my spare time," Attorney Tian coughed. "I once signed with Fuchen twice, though my results were mediocre—nothing compared to Chongran's."

"I see," Qianzhou smiled, then pointed to a young, round-faced boy near the editorial department window. "That's him. Want to go say hello?"

"No need to say hello—Fuchen probably doesn't remember a nobody like me," Attorney Tian whispered. "I just want to take a look."

"Is that Chongran?" Hongdou, head of the urban fiction team, noticed the commotion and spotted Li Luo as Qianzhou arrived. "You're here to sign a big-name author?"

"Yeah," Li Luo extended his hand to shake the head editor's, then introduced, "These are my parents."

Both sides greeted each other warmly.

The editorial staff also turned to look curiously; upon seeing how young Chongran truly was, they couldn't help sighing and reflecting inwardly.

Qingyue, the female editor next to Qianzhou, furrowed her brow the moment she saw Li Luo—she still resented how he had taken her top recommendation slot last year for a Korean entertainment novel.

But remembering the current success of I Am Really Not a Star, Qingyue sighed again and let go of any lingering resentment.

Meanwhile, Ying Chanxi followed Li Luo closely, curiously observing her surroundings, her heart fluttering with quiet excitement.

Aside from Uncle and Auntie, she was probably the only person beside Li Luo who could accompany him here, wasn't she?

After understanding the significance of signing a big-name author, Ying Chanxi felt she had become part of a major milestone in Li Luo's life—and her heart swelled with joy.

Standing beside Li Luo, Ying Chanxi easily sensed the various glances cast their way by the editorial staff.

Wonder, sighs, envy…

The more she felt it, the more a quiet pride swelled in her.

This was her childhood friend, after all~

Thinking of it, she couldn't help smiling sweetly, her face glowing with a beautiful expression.

After chatting briefly with the head editor, Li Luo continued touring with Qianzhou. Seeing Ying Chanxi's expression, he smiled and asked, "Why are you so happy? This isn't even a tourist spot—I thought you'd find it boring."

"No way, I think it's great," Ying Chanxi said, skipping beside him. "As long as I'm with you, whether it's a tourist spot or not, I'm happy."

"After we finish touring here, let's visit some nearby attractions this afternoon," Li Luo said. "But I'll need to come back in the evening to see if we can finalize the big-name signing."

"Mm-hmm, whatever you say~"