Chapter 342: Yan Zhusheng

Faced with Yan Zhusheng's flawless logic, Li Luo sighed, helpless before her.

After all, the tickets were already bought; he might as well sit down.

To be honest, even in his past life, though he often watched movies with Xu Youyu, this was the first time in two lifetimes he'd sat in a couple's seat.

Now seated on this two-person sofa, he glanced left and right; behind the booth partitions, it was nearly impossible to see what was happening in the next seat.

Most people chose seats in rows six to eight, leaving several rows between them and the couple's seats—no one was usually bored enough to turn around and look back.

Only the staff in the surveillance room could clearly see what happened in the couple's seats.

"Li Luo."

"Hmm?"

"You've never sat in a friend's seat, have you?" Yan Zhusheng asked, curious at his scanning gaze.

"... Actually, never."

In truth, unless someone invited him, he hardly ever went to the cinema—he always waited to watch at home.

"I can tell," Yan Zhusheng nodded. "You never wrote about couple's seats in your books."

"So it's couple's seats again, is it?"

"Hmm... I mean friend's seat." Yan Zhusheng stiffened her face, then said, "But now you've experienced it—remember to write it into your next book: the protagonist and Mo Qinghan sit together in a couple's seat at the cinema and kiss while watching the movie."

Li Luo: "... Why does it have to involve kissing? We haven't even..."

Before he finished speaking, Li Luo felt a kiss on his cheek.

He whipped his head toward Yan Zhusheng, who blinked innocently at him: "Now we have. Can you write it into your book?"

Li Luo: "..."

"Is kissing just the cheek not enough?" Yan Zhusheng tilted her head, watching Li Luo fall silent, eagerly asking, "Then..."

"Stop!" Li Luo immediately pressed down on her restless head, whispering, "Even if no one seems to see us here, the cinema is full of cameras—the staff in the back can see everything clearly."

"So what if they see?" Yan Zhusheng asked, puzzled. "I'm just giving you inspiration for your book."

"I really appreciate it..." Li Luo took a deep breath; when the big screen began the opening credits, he finally exhaled and patted her head, signaling her to sit upright. "Alright, the movie's starting—pay attention."

"Oh." Yan Zhusheng seemed reluctant but obediently turned her gaze toward the screen.

Yet as the movie played, she quietly shifted her bottom closer to Li Luo until her entire body leaned against him, then settled in comfortably.

Li Luo turned to look at her, knowing any protest was useless, so he let her lean there.

Under this atmosphere, the big screen unveiled *Jurassic World*.

The plot was nothing special—just Hollywood's usual formula: a retired soldier as protagonist, family reconciliation, brotherhood, the light of humanity in ordinary people, and a child's suggestion ultimately resolving the crisis—all classic elements.

For today's movie market, this film still contained every ingredient for a blockbuster, drawing audiences worldwide.

But after experiencing the disenchantment of the future, Li Luo appreciated it only for its dinosaurs.

Yet precisely because of the dinosaurs, when the genetically modified T. rex appeared, Yan Zhusheng panicked and hid in Li Luo's arms.

Only after the movie ended did Li Luo realize—he had unconsciously held Yan Zhusheng in his arms since midway through, and still held her now.

"... Was the movie really that scary?"

"Mm." Yan Zhusheng nodded vigorously, still not rising from his arms; in fact, she rubbed her head against his chest a few times as she nodded.

Seeing the theater lights turn on, Li Luo patted her shoulder. "Come on, let's go home early—we still have to cook."

"Oh." Yan Zhusheng still seemed reluctant; as Li Luo pulled her up from the couple's seat, she trudged slowly behind him.

Because of her lingering, they didn't leave the Yintai Building until half past eleven, caught a cab on the street, and headed for Bihai Lanting.

At this moment, Ying Chanxi had already bought the groceries and sat at the dining table in the living room of 1502, propping her chin in her hand, gazing toward the front door, one finger tapping the table in an impatient rhythm.

Then the study door opened; Xu Youyu stepped out in a nightgown, yawning. Seeing Ying Chanxi in the living room, she greeted: "Good morning, Xixi."

"Good morning, Senior."

"Why are you sitting here alone?" Xu Youyu asked, puzzled. "Where are Li Luo and Zhusheng?"

"They went out," Ying Chanxi replied, chin still propped, expressionless.

"Huh?" Xu Youyu exclaimed. "Didn't they take you?"

This remark... Ying Chanxi's mood had already been sour; now it felt like a sword piercing straight through her heart.

She clenched her lips, steadied herself, then said: "I slept too late yesterday, and today I was too tired to get up—I only woke up at nine."

"Ah, that explains it." Xu Youyu nodded. "So what about lunch? Just the two of us?"

Ying Chanxi shook her head: "Li Luo said he'd come back to cook lunch—we'll eat together. I already bought the ingredients."

"Alright then." Xu Youyu nodded, smiling reassuringly. "Today's Zhusheng's birthday—the Birthday Person's happiness matters most. I'll go freshen up."

"Mm."

Ying Chanxi responded, not angry at Zhusheng, but with a faint regret.

Not regret for not waking up this morning—but for not thinking, on her own birthday, to use it as an excuse to go out alone with Li Luo.

Thinking of this, Ying Chanxi felt a pang of sourness, her heart unbalanced.

Yet when the front door opened, she quickly smoothed her mood, rising to greet them home.

But when she saw Yan Zhusheng holding a bag, she asked curiously: "Zhusheng, what's this?"

"This?" Yan Zhusheng slipped on slippers, lifted the bag, and tilted her head. "Li Luo bought me clothes."

"Oh... oh oh... I see..." Ying Chanxi unconsciously touched the bracelet on her wrist, her mood calming. "Why don't you rest on the sofa for a bit?"

Saying this, Ying Chanxi took Li Luo's wrist and led him toward the kitchen: "I'll cook with Li Luo."

"Can I help?" Yan Zhusheng showed no intention to rest, scampering after Li Luo.

Seeing this, Ying Chanxi recalled her own birthday, then smiled warmly, pressing her hands on Yan Zhusheng's shoulders and gently pushing her out of the kitchen: "Today you're the Birthday Person—why would you be stuck in the kitchen?"

"Go on, sit on the sofa, or play the piano."

"We'll call you when dinner's ready."

Since Ying Chanxi had said so, Yan Zhusheng could only step out of the kitchen, leaving the space to Li Luo and Ying Chanxi.

After closing the kitchen door, Ying Chanxi's mood finally improved; she hummed a little tune, tied on an apron, and came to assist Li Luo.

But as soon as she thought of what had happened that morning, she couldn't help asking Li Luo mid-task: "What did you two do this morning?"

"Uh… we just wandered around," Li Luo said. "After morning jogging, there was still time, so we strolled through the streets and visited the science museum."

"Then we went to Intime, bought her two outfits, and watched a movie."

"We came straight back to cook after the movie."

"Oh, I see," Ying Chanxi thought, a sour feeling rising inside her—just imagining Li Luo buying clothes for Yan Zhusheng made her uneasy.

Li Luo had never bought her clothes before…

During that trip to Changning City last time, Li Guohong had taken her and Lin Xiuhong to buy Hanfu; she had known at the time that Li Luo had actually paid.

But it still hadn't felt like Li Luo had personally chosen them with her.

Thinking of this, Ying Chanxi felt a pang of envy, wondering when she could find an excuse to make Li Luo take her out shopping.

It wasn't just about wanting Li Luo to spend money on her—she just wanted "the clothes Li Luo personally picked out."

Even if she ended up paying for them herself, she would be delighted.

"Then… what movie did you watch? Was it good?" Ying Chanxi asked again.

"Jurassic World—the same series as the old Jurassic Park," Li Luo said. "The plot was okay, but at least the special effects were worth it."

"You watched that one…" Ying Chanxi nodded; her mood didn't worsen.

After all, it was sci-fi, not a romance.

But she had no idea that Yan Zhusheng had booked couple's seats.

…

After lunch was prepared, the four gathered around the dining table to eat.

Ying Chanxi watched Yan Zhusheng, sitting across from her, eating quietly, and opened her mouth several times without speaking.

Yan Zhusheng noticed Ying Chanxi staring and asked curiously: "Chanxi, is something on your mind?"

"N-nothing," Ying Chanxi mumbled, lowering her head to shovel rice, then couldn't help asking, "Do you have any plans this afternoon?"

"Aren't you going to class this afternoon, Chanxi?"

"I am going to class," Xu Youyu chuckled, "but what about me? Why not bring me along too?"

Hearing Xu Youyu say this, Ying Chanxi immediately turned to look at her, unsure of her feelings—but at least they were better than before.

After all, compared to Li Luo and Yan Zhusheng being alone together, having Senior Xu along would make Ying Chanxi feel at least a little better.

But Yan Zhusheng simply nodded: "Sure, so what should we do this afternoon?"

As she spoke, Yan Zhusheng turned to look at Li Luo.

"You said you wanted to play badminton and sing," Li Luo swallowed his bite and said, "Let's take a walk after lunch to digest."

"Then I'll drop Chanxi off at school, and we'll head to the nearby sports center to play badminton."

"Play until around three or four in the afternoon, pick up the cake you pre-ordered, then head to the nearby KTV to sing, celebrate your birthday, and eat cake."

"Sing until eight or nine at night—then Xu Yinghuan and the others will head home, and we'll come back and play cards."

"I mean normal card games—nothing else."

After hearing Li Luo's plan, Xu Youyu, who had been eager to join, immediately lost interest: "Forget badminton—I'll just go back to my room and take a nap."

"Huh?" Ying Chanxi, who had expected Xu Youyu to join, was stunned and hurriedly urged: "Senior Xu, playing badminton once in a while is good for you—how long has it been since you exercised properly?"

"Don't torture me~" Xu Youyu raised her hands in surrender. "I collapse after ten minutes of badminton."

"That's exactly why you need more exercise," Ying Chanxi pressed. "And today is Zhusheng's birthday—I have to go to class and can't join. You can't just leave her without company, can you?"

Seeing her so insistent, Xu Youyu couldn't help glancing at Ying Chanxi twice, then sighed and laughed: "Fine, fine—I'll come along."

Sitting across from them, Yan Zhusheng pouted slightly—she hadn't expected badminton to fail to deter Xu Youyu, and now Ying Chanxi had even convinced her to come.

But after lunch, Yan Zhusheng slipped back to her bedroom, pulled out her phone, and made a call.

"Hello? What's up, Zhusheng?"

"Huanhuan, are you free this afternoon?"

"Yes," Xu Yinghuan replied, puzzled. "But didn't you say today's your birthday, Monday, and you'd meet us in the evening to celebrate?"

"I changed my mind," Yan Zhusheng said, her face serious. "It's my birthday—I'd rather you came earlier to keep me company."

"You've actually had a change of heart?" Xu Yinghuan sighed. "I thought you'd stick with Li Luo all day—so you thought of me at lunch? Guess I haven't been wasting my kindness on you."

"Yeah, Huanhuan's the best," Yan Zhusheng nodded, then said, "Let's meet at the sports center at 1:30 this afternoon."

"The sports center?"

"Yes, we'll play badminton together."

"You're playing badminton on your birthday?" Xu Yinghuan exclaimed. "Wait—didn't you go on a date with Li Luo?"

"We already had one this morning."

"How was it? Tell me everything!" Xu Yinghuan leaned forward eagerly.

"He bought me new clothes," Yan Zhusheng said seriously. "And we kissed in the couple's seats at the cinema."

Xu Yinghuan: "!!!"

"Tell me more! Give me details—don't just summarize!"

…

Afternoon.

After dropping Chanxi off at the First Affiliated High School, Li Luo and the other two arrived at the sports center and met up with Xu Yinghuan.

As the four entered the badminton hall, Xu Yinghuan watched in silence as Yan Zhusheng pulled Li Luo toward the opposite court and told her to keep Xu Youyu company.

So that's why you called me?