Chapter 335: Yan Zhusheng: This Is Fair

In the morning, after touring the Wenxue Group, Li Luo invited Qianzhou, along with Lawyer Tian and the hastily arrived Ying Zhicheng, for a meal at a nearby restaurant with seven people total.

At the dinner table, Ying Zhicheng glanced at his daughter and saw that Xixi's expression was calm, her demeanor relaxed, and her mood seemingly cheerful—he felt slightly reassured.

His gaze toward Li Luo also became more favorable.

Li Guohong and editor Qianzhou got along well, since both had read Li Luo's novels.

But Li Guohong hadn't read much of it; he still greatly enjoyed listening to the editor discuss Li Luo's book.

Hearing Qianzhou analyze the book's exceptional qualities from every angle, Li Guohong and Lin Xiuhong smiled broadly, as if they themselves had been praised.

Moreover, Qianzhou himself was highly capable, explaining his points clearly and coherently, and unlike Xu Rongsheng, he focused more on the editor's and reader's perspectives, as well as commercial angles.

The latter perspective was entirely fresh to Li Guohong and Lin Xiuhong.

After all, superiority often emerges through comparison.

Previously, though they knew Li Luo's book was impressive, they had no clear sense of just how impressive it truly was.

At most, they'd checked the top rankings on the Qidian app, catching only glimpses of the bigger picture.

But from Qianzhou, they learned that although Li Luo's current book ranked only near the bottom of the top ten in average subscriptions among serialized works, its follow-up subscriptions remained remarkably stable—at least within the top five site-wide.

All performance metrics on distribution platforms were also areas the couple had never understood before.

Beside them, Ying Chanxi listened intently, swinging her legs as she absorbed the editor's insights, growing happier with every word—happier, it seemed, than when her teachers praised her.

After lunch, Qianzhou said he needed to return to work.

Lawyer Tian planned to go with Qianzhou back to the Wenxue Group, staying there in the afternoon to continue negotiating contract details and aiming to finalize the agreement today.

The five of them—Li Luo and his parents, Ying Zhicheng and Ying Chanxi—rarely had time together, so they spent the afternoon strolling along the famous Changning Pedestrian Street, bought souvenirs, then visited the Bund.

When evening came and Lawyer Tian called to say the contract was finalized and ready for signing, Li Luo called his parents over, bid farewell to Ying Zhicheng and his daughter, and told them to keep enjoying themselves.

Perhaps due to a sense of guilt, Ying Zhicheng eagerly took his daughter's hand and declared he'd spend the whole day with her, asking where she wanted to go for dinner.

Originally, Ying Chanxi had wanted to follow Li Luo back to witness his big-deal signing ceremony.

But this was her rare chance to travel with her father—they'd only shared one lunch yesterday—and now that they finally had time to explore together, after much hesitation, she stayed behind, continuing sightseeing with Ying Zhicheng as she watched Li Luo and his parents leave.

Upon arriving at the Wenxue Group, Li Luo returned to the reception room, confirmed all offered terms had been met, and promptly signed the contract.

Because Chongran Culture was also involved, Li Guohong had to represent the company, and Lin Xiuhong had to represent Li Luo as his minor's legal guardian, signing a tripartite agreement.

Once the formal agreement was reached, the Grand Author Contract immediately took effect.

However, the contract clearly stated that news of the Grand Author identity must remain confidential until the year-end Grand Author list is officially announced at the annual meeting.

Thus, for the remaining half-year, Li Luo and the others must keep the signing secret from the public.

But this small restriction was trivial—all Grand Author benefits took immediate effect and did not affect Li Luo's actual earnings.

Besides, when lurking in author groups, watching them debate from mid-year to year-end, guessing which authors would be named Grand Authors, it was actually quite entertaining.

Don't blame Li Luo for being shallow; sometimes happiness is this simple.

After signing, Li Luo treated Lawyer Tian to a simple dinner, then returned to the hotel.

Lin Xiuhong and Li Guohong, exhausted from two days of sightseeing, headed straight back to the hotel to rest—they had a high-speed train to catch the next morning.

So Li Luo went directly back to the Jinjiang Hotel.

As soon as he stepped into the hotel lobby, he saw a familiar figure sitting on the sofa area to the right.

The moment he spotted him, the figure sprang up and hurried over.

"Li Luo~" Yan Zhusheng called his name, blinking her eyes, her gaze fixed entirely on him, staring intently.

As if just looking at him made her happy.

"What were you doing this afternoon?" Li Luo said, looking at Yan Zhusheng with exasperation. "You didn't wait here all afternoon, did you?"

Yan Zhusheng shook her head: "I accompanied Mom to an event. I only waited two hours."

Hearing her say it so lightly, Li Luo sighed, ruffled her hair, and asked softly, "Anything you want to do? There's still some time left—let me take you out."

"Really?" Yan Zhusheng's eyes brightened slightly.

"Really. Where do you want to go?"

"I don't know." Yan Zhusheng shook her head, then secretly slipped her small hand into Li Luo's palm and whispered, "I'm fine anywhere."

"This place is a bit far from other attractions." Li Luo thought for a moment, a suitable spot flashing in his mind, then said plainly, "Follow me."

"Okay."

The two walked hand in hand out the Jinjiang Hotel's front door. Li Luo flagged down a taxi, and soon they arrived at the sightseeing boat ticket counter.

Yan Zhusheng curiously scanned the riverside scenery; after Li Luo bought the tickets, she obediently followed him to board the boat.

At exactly seven p. m., the sightseeing boat departed, carrying the last crimson glow of sunset, turning the river's surface red-black, while the skyscrapers along the shore blazed brilliantly under the nightfall.

Li Luo led Yan Zhusheng to the second-deck open area. Facing the evening river breeze, she gripped the railing and leaned into his arms, her face relaxed with contentment.

Midway, Yan Zhusheng handed her phone to a nearby female attendant, asking her to take a few photos of her and Li Luo.

The attendant was delighted—another divine couple, handsome man and beautiful woman—and snapped over a dozen photos, thinking how perfectly matched they looked.

But upon closer inspection, the attendant frowned slightly—something about this guy felt oddly familiar…

When she returned the phone, it suddenly clicked: wasn't this guy the one who'd been sightseeing here yesterday evening with another girl in hanfu?

What the hell?

The attendant couldn't help glancing at Li Luo again, finally confirming it.

After all, only one day had passed, and Li Luo was undeniably handsome.

Plus, yesterday Li Luo and Ying Chanxi had both worn ancient-style clothing—memorable visuals that had left a strong impression on the attendant.

Now today, this guy returned with a different but equally stunning girl—this was just baffling.

So the sugar she'd been savoring yesterday actually had pebbles in it?

This guy was a jerk!

Her initial delight at photographing a handsome couple vanished instantly; the attendant stared blankly at the pair, silently pitying the girl in her heart.

Not long after.

Yan Zhusheng whispered something to Li Luo's ear, then turned and went downstairs to the restroom.

The server, seeing this, immediately shifted her gaze and swiftly turned to follow them secretly.

After Yan Zhusheng left, Li Luo stood alone by the railing, gazing out at the evening wind blowing over the river, then received a call.

It was Xu Youyu calling.

"Hello? What's up?"

"Where are you?" Xu Youyu asked. "Still hanging out with Xixi?"

"No…" Li Luo coughed twice and said softly, "I'm with Zhusheng."

"Huh?" Xu Youyu paused. "Why is it Zhusheng now? Where did you two go?"

"To the sightseeing boat we came to the day before yesterday."

"So you're going to places I've been to—and taking someone else there too?" Xu Youyu let out a cold laugh. "Next you'll be watching the same movie three times, won't you?"

"That's not going to happen… we could just all go to the cinema together." Li Luo's face flushed, and he coughed twice.

"I think you're getting more shameless by the day." Xu Youyu rolled her eyes. "So where's Xixi?"

"She's touring attractions with Uncle Ying."

"Is Uncle Ying trying to make up for Xixi?" Xu Youyu couldn't help laughing. "I wonder what Xixi will think when she finds out about him and Aunt Yuan."

"Enough about that," Li Luo cut in. "Did you call just to ask that?"

"No," Xu Youyu sighed, sounding slightly forlorn. "I'm taking the high-speed train home. I wanted to say goodbye before I left, but I couldn't even see you—I'm heartbroken."

Li Luo: "…"

"You're leaving already?"

"What else am I supposed to do?" Xu Youyu pouted. "Xixi and Zhusheng keep coming to your hotel every day, and I can't do anything—staying here just increases the risk of being caught. Better to just leave."

"That's true." Li Luo nodded awkwardly, then said, "When you get to the train station and when you get home, send me a message, okay?"

"Got it," Xu Youyu chirped. "Bye-bye, darling~ See you at home tomorrow."

After hanging up, Li Luo smiled helplessly.

Not long after, Yan Zhusheng returned to the second floor and came back to Li Luo's side.

The server girl followed behind, sneaking glances at them, her eyes filled with anticipation.

But what happened next left her stunned.

Yan Zhusheng stepped in front of Li Luo again, took his hands from behind, wrapped them around herself, and leaned into his embrace—leaving the server in long, silent shock.

"Li Luo."

"Hmm?"

"... Nothing." Yan Zhusheng shook her head slightly in his arms, then turned to face him and smiled. "I had a great day today."

…

At around nine p. m., Li Luo and Yan Zhusheng returned to the Jinjiang Hotel.

Yan Zhusheng showed no intention of returning to her and her mother's suite; she happily followed Li Luo back to his room.

Xu Youyu had already left, and Ying Chanxi was touring attractions with Ying Zhicheng, so there was no risk of anything unexpected—Li Luo let her tag along.

But at around ten p. m., Ying Chanxi called.

Li Luo was typing at the time.

Yan Zhusheng, sitting quietly beside him, saw the phone vibrate and kindly pressed the answer button, then turned on speakerphone.

Ying Chanxi's voice came clearly from the other end: "Hello? Li Luo, are you writing? I think I heard you typing."

"Yeah, writing," Li Luo nodded. "What's up? Did you finish touring with Uncle Ying?"

"Mm-hmm, I just got back to the hotel," Ying Chanxi said, then chatted casually with Li Luo. "We're going home tomorrow."

"Yeah."

"Time flies so fast—it feels like we barely got to play, and suddenly it's over."

"True."

"I wish we could have stayed longer," Ying Chanxi sighed. "But I have to go to the competition class tomorrow."

"There'll be plenty of chances later," Li Luo said, then glared at Yan Zhusheng beside him and slapped her mischievous foot away with a sharp crack.

"What was that sound?"

"Cough… a mosquito. I swatted it."

"Oh okay," Ying Chanxi didn't suspect a thing. "Do you want some menthol oil? I brought some—I can bring it over."

"No need, no need—it didn't even bite me. I already took care of it."

"Alright," Ying Chanxi blinked shyly, then couldn't help herself and whispered softly, "If you don't have anything else planned tonight… can I come over and watch a movie with you?"

"Huh?" Li Luo froze, turning to look at Yan Zhusheng beside him.

Yan Zhusheng had heard it too. She tilted her head, thought for a moment, then nodded to Li Luo and leaned close to his ear to whisper, "I'll go back soon."

Li Luo nodded gently, stroked her head, and said to Ying Chanxi on the phone, "I'm fine with it, but I still have to write for a while—might be a bit boring."

"That's fine—I've got nothing else to do over here alone."

"Alright," Li Luo asked. "When will you come over?"

"I—I need to take a shower first," Ying Chanxi whispered. "I'll come after I'm done."

"Let me know when you're on your way."

"Okay~" Ying Chanxi beamed, her toes curling on the bed as she looked forward to the evening rendezvous. "I'm off to shower now—see you soon~"

"Alright."

After hanging up, Li Luo looked at Yan Zhusheng, and Yan Zhusheng looked back at him.

"Yesterday I slept here, and Chanxi went on the boat with you," Yan Zhusheng said seriously. "Today I went on the boat with you, so Chanxi will come over tonight—it's only fair."

Li Luo: "……?"

Have to say, sometimes even Li Luo, this reborn person, finds it a bit hard to figure out the way Yan Zhusheng's mind works.

【123】 Admittedly, even Li Luo, a Reborn, sometimes couldn't grasp Yan Zhusheng's train of thought.

She always manages to find such an oddly unique angle, leaving Li Luo instantly speechless, not knowing what to say.

【124】 She always found an utterly bizarre angle that left Li Luo speechless, not knowing what to say at all.

"By the way, how did you know I went on the boat with Chanxi yesterday?"

"The waiter who took our photo told me secretly," Yan Zhusheng whispered. "She thought you were dating two people at once, but we're just good friends."

Li Luo: "……"

Reminded by Yan Zhusheng, Li Luo went to search his memory palace, and after comparing, he discovered that the waiter who took their photos on both days was really the same person.

【128】 Only after Yan Zhusheng reminded him did Li Luo search his Memory Palace, compare the two days, and realize the waiter who took their photos was indeed the same person.

This left him rather speechless.

【129】 That left him somewhat speechless.

He hadn't paid much attention before, and hadn't expected such an oversight.

【130】 He hadn't paid much attention before, never expecting such an oversight.

Fortunately, he went with Xixi first, then with Zhusheng.

【131】 Fortunately, he went with Chanxi first, then with Zhusheng.

If the order had been reversed, that would have been a bit alarming.

【132】 If the order had been reversed, it would've been a bit terrifying.

"Should I take you back?" Li Luo thought for a moment and asked.

"Okay!" Yan Zhusheng immediately nodded, gathered her things, and obediently followed Li Luo out of the room, taking the elevator straight to the 20th floor, swiping her keycard to enter Room 2008.

At that moment, Yuan Wanqing was napping in the living room of the suite, sitting on the sofa watching TV, holding her phone. Seeing her daughter return with Li Luo, she asked in confusion, "Why did you come here with Li Luo?"

"He has other things tonight, so I came back first," Yan Zhusheng said, sitting beside Yuan Wanqing, picking up the juice on the coffee table and pouring a glass for Li Luo and herself.

Li Luo sat down on the nearby armchair, took the juice, sipped it, then said to Yuan Wanqing, "I haven't had the chance to say it yet—congratulations, Aunt Yuan, on your successful challenge."

"Heh, did Zhusheng tell you?" Yuan Wanqing smiled, set her phone down, and looked at Li Luo. "I owe it to the song you picked—it worked wonderfully."

"Then I'll look forward to your performance on the show," Li Luo smiled. "After this, it's just regular participation, right?"

"Mm, we record once a week," Yuan Wanqing nodded. As long as she doesn't end up in the bottom ranks in the following episodes, she should make it all the way to the finals.

"What about the grand finale?" Li Luo asked with a smile. "I think you have a good chance."

"That's not up to us," Yuan Wanqing laughed. "We can only do our best. There are only four slots for the grand finale, and the other contestants are well-known, highly skilled veterans—it's still very difficult."

Li Luo chatted with Yuan Wanqing for a while, then, feeling the time was right, stood up to take his leave.

Seeing this, Yan Zhusheng immediately rose to see him off, scampering after him out of the room, all the way to the elevator, reaching out to press the button for him.

"You're not seriously going to see me all the way down, are you? Wouldn't that make my trip up pointless?"

"No, just here is fine," Yan Zhusheng blinked, then stepped forward two paces, leaned close to Li Luo, and said, "Hug."

"You already celebrated Aunt Yuan's challenge win—what's the excuse this time?"

"A farewell hug between good friends," Yan Zhusheng said seriously. "Tomorrow morning I'm returning to Yuhang City with Mom. This is our last meeting in Changning."

The reasoning was perfectly reasonable.

Li Luo gently pulled her into his arms and waited quietly for the elevator to arrive.

But after hugging for several minutes, the elevator still hadn't come. Li Luo turned his head and realized she hadn't pressed the button at all!

"……Didn't you just press the elevator button?" Li Luo asked, dumbfounded.

"Did I?" Yan Zhusheng blinked innocently, pretending ignorance in his arms. "I don't remember."

You don't remember—I remember perfectly!

Li Luo was half-amused, half-frustrated. If not for his Memory Palace's flawless record of truth, he might have been completely fooled.

He pressed the elevator button. The elevator arrived quickly. Yan Zhusheng finally pulled away reluctantly, waving at Li Luo as he stepped inside.

"Li Luo, see you tomorrow when you get home."

"Mm."

After parting with Yan Zhusheng, Li Luo returned to his room and typed for another ten minutes or so before finally receiving a call from Ying Chanxi.

"Hello?"

"Li Luo, I'm here!" Ying Chanxi said cheerfully. "I'm downstairs at the supermarket, buying snacks for the movie. Anything you want?"

"Buy whatever you like—I'll eat whatever you like."

"Okay! I'll come up after I'm done."

Not long after, a knock came at the door.

Li Luo opened it to find Ying Chanxi standing there, holding two plastic bags, smiling brightly at him.

Ying Chanxi still carried a faint freshness from her shower—her whole figure looked dewy, her face soft and pale as if it could burst into water at a touch, making one want to bite it.

"You showered, right?" Li Luo let her in, asking casually.

"Mm-hmm, already did," Ying Chanxi wandered into Li Luo's room, plopped onto the bed, pulled out snacks and drinks from the bags, and placed a few bottles into the room's built-in fridge.

Hearing this, Li Luo couldn't help but think—this was the normal way, wasn't it?

Yet, for some reason, a tiny bit of disappointment lingered in his heart.

"You write. I'll wait," Ying Chanxi said sweetly, placing Li Luo's favorite snacks on his desk, then sitting on the chair herself, opening a drink for both of them.

As Li Luo resumed typing, she occasionally fed him snacks.

…

Typing away, Li Luo had assumed the night would pass quietly and uneventfully.

But when he typed past eleven at night, Ying Chanxi handed him a potato chip—he missed his mouth, and the chip fell straight to the floor.

Seeing this, Ying Chanxi bent down to pick it up, intending to throw it away.

But in her haste, she misjudged the distance between herself and the desk.

As she rose up, she bumped hard into the desk, causing a bottle of opened drink on the edge to tip over.

"Ah!" The drink gushed out—Li Luo had no time to block it—and soaked Ying Chanxi from head to toe. Startled, she cried out instinctively, drenching her hair and clothes completely.