Chapter 355: We

When Yan Zhusheng led Li Luo and Ying Chanxi inside, everyone's eyes turned toward them.

Niu Qingling and Xie Shuchen, upon seeing Li Luo enter, couldn't help but exhale in relief, feeling noticeably more at ease.

As for the others, their gazes curiosity scanned over.

Li Luo returned the scrutiny without hesitation, sweeping his eyes across the seven new first-year students.

Five boys and two girls total; the two girls were the one playing keyboard and the one playing guitar.

Of them, only Lin Suifeng felt somewhat familiar; the rest he'd only met once on the first day of first-year orientation, and they likely didn't remember him.

He called out each person's name and instrument, made a brief introduction, then said nothing more—just gestured for Xie Shuchen and Niu Qingling to come over, grab their gear, and start playing a song.

Xie Shuchen had grown increasingly skilled on the keyboard this past year; Li Luo still clutched his guitar; Niu Qingling took her place behind the drum kit with a smile; Yan Zhusheng casually picked up a bass, stood before the microphone.

The four of them had rehearsed together long enough that they needed no verbal cue—Niu Qingling tapped the snare three times, the rhythm kicked in, and Li Luo's guitar and Xie Shuchen's keyboard slid in seamlessly.

Though Yan Zhusheng rarely played bass, he joined the ensemble with equal smoothness.

Midway through "Brave Heart," the activity room burst into lively energy.

Li Luo didn't let the others sit idle; during the instrumental break, he beckoned over a bolder guitarist to pick up a guitar and try joining in—even if he messed up, it didn't matter, since Yan Zhusheng's voice could hold the tune, rarely going off-key.

Then Li Luo waved to Jiang Songhe, signaling him to take over Yan Zhusheng's bass and fully free Yan Zhusheng as lead vocalist.

When they reached the chorus, Li Luo invited everyone else to sing along; the rock club erupted in noise.

Playing music wasn't a real performance—you didn't have to care how well you played; what mattered was having fun yourself.

The first-year students, initially awkward among each other, gradually blended in after playing along with Li Luo's rhythm for over an hour.

Yan Zhusheng occasionally glanced at Li Luo, letting loose her voice with full abandon, her eyes filled with contentment and joy.

Nearby, Lin Suifeng, who had just taken over the drums, noticed the sparkle in Yan's eyes and couldn't help shifting his gaze to Senior Li Luo, silently sighing inwardly.

But then he looked toward the chair by the wall, where Senior Ying sat quietly, elbows propped on her knees, hands cupping her cheeks, smiling as she watched Li Luo.

It left him momentarily dazed.

Could it be… that both Senior Yan and Senior Ying were pursuing Senior Li Luo at the same time?

And they were even rivals?!

After spending these past few days together, Lin Suifeng had to admit Senior Li Luo was an outstanding person—but for two such girls to wholeheartedly devote themselves to pursuing him? It felt utterly implausible.

Thinking of it, Lin Suifeng couldn't help feeling envious, even a little jealous.

But then he felt deflated.

If he were competing with Li Luo, he truly had little confidence—especially since they'd already been close for a full year.

Not to mention how outstanding Li Luo himself was; just looking at Senior Yan's expression, she was clearly already deeply smitten.

It's like the race started with the other runner already ninety-nine meters ahead—what's the point of running?

Lin Suifeng drummed away, feeling increasingly gloomy.

Li Luo, of course, noticed none of this—he had no idea what Yan Zhusheng had told the younger student before he arrived.

Around five in the evening, Li Luo clapped his hands to signal the end; the rock club's first activity of the semester concluded successfully.

After seeing off the new students, Niu Qingling smiled at Li Luo and said, "Just give you the president position already."

"No need for that," Li Luo coughed twice. "We don't even have many members in the rock club—just get together to practice, play a few shows. Zhusheng's fine."

"There's still a bit of an issue," Yan Zhusheng whispered. "But you could be acting president."

"In any case, we'll still need you to carry a lot of the load," Niu Qingling said. "I'll only stay until National Day; after that, only the three of you will be left."

Now acting president in all but name, Li Luo walked home with Yan Zhusheng and Ying Chanxi.

By then, Xu Youyu had already napped at home and woke up refreshed, flipping through the letters she'd received from her pen pals.

She casually opened and glanced at the three letters others had sent, then tossed them aside.

Then she picked up the one written by Ying Chanxi.

【Dear Senior:】

【The last time I wrote a pen pal letter was before summer vacation, at the end of last semester.】

【Thinking back, we've now lived under the same roof for over a year.】

【Though we knew each other slightly in junior high, our true connection began last summer.】

【Sometimes fate is truly strange—it made Li Luo's family buy the exact house you're renting.】

【Over the past year, living with you has been delightful; I've become vice-president of the literature club and vice-chair of the student council, both thanks to your great help and the many things I've learned.】

【But when I think of how you are at home, I still find it amusing—this contrast makes your excellence feel more real, more approachable.】

【Though you're a bit unreliable in daily life, you're still dependable in other ways.】

【Especially at school, your conduct and interpersonal skills offer much for me to learn from.】

【Hmm… if only you wouldn't be so unrestrained when showering, it'd be better.】

【But does touching that area more often really make it grow bigger?】

【I feel like it's gotten slightly bigger lately—but I'm not sure if it's just my imagination.】

【Ah! It feels so embarrassing to say this—but you'd understand, wouldn't you, Senior?】

【I'm genuinely envious of your figure; it seems no amount of effort can change this, and you look stunning in any outfit—I'm truly jealous.】

【This summer, Zhusheng went on the class trip; I went to Changning with Li Luo. Didn't you travel anywhere?】

【Li Luo said your dream is to travel across the whole country.】

【Hmm… I was wondering—if after you graduate from high school next year, and we're both in Gao Er during next summer, could we travel together? It would probably be a very interesting journey.】

【After that, you'll go to university, and we'll enter Gao San, preparing for the college entrance exam—we won't have much free time for traveling anymore.】

【Finally, I wish you smooth sailing through Gao San, a flawless performance on next year's college entrance exam, and admission to Qianjiang University.】

【—Ying Chanxi】

Traveling… Xu Youyu propped her chin, smiling with quiet anticipation.

Then she looked down at her chest and sighed with a wry smile.

Small things have small troubles; big things have big hardships too.

Xu Youyu placed her chest on the desk, let out a comfortable sigh, then continued unpacking Li Luo's letter.

【Drunkard Senior:】

At the first line, Xu Youyu couldn't help but laugh.

Where did she ever drink too much?

She barely drank at all.

She muttered two complaints in her heart and kept reading.

【A year passed quickly; nothing much happened at school, but our novel has made tremendous progress—truly the twin stars of last year's books.】

【Though success this year seems unlikely, I believe by next year you'll join me in the Grand Master Hall.】

【I'm eagerly awaiting the moment you step onto the WenYue Annual Stage.】

【Come to think of it, when that day finally comes, won't you have to come clean with your family?】

【So far, Uncle Xu is a professor in the Literature Department, specializing in traditional literature, but he doesn't hold any prejudice against Online Novels.】

【I think you can be bold—trust that Uncle Xu and Aunt Cui will accept and support your novel career.】

【Of course, don't neglect your studies—but as for that, Senior is still trustworthy.】

【I'm counting on you to get into Qianjiang University early next year, build up your reputation, so when I enroll, I can lean on the big tree and just stroll around campus like a king.】

【Hmm… sometimes you give me massages at night—they're quite nice. But if you could just stop tricking me into drinking, that'd be even better.】

【Also, about the punishment from our bet—when exactly will you collect?】

【Senior, you've been holding onto it all this time—I'm getting nervous. Can you please stop dragging it out?】

【Just give me a straight answer already!】

【—Li Luo】

Reading Li Luo's letter, Xu Youyu snorted twice, thinking this kid still hadn't given up—he was clearly hoping she'd embarrass herself alongside him, truly devious.

When she reached the part about Qianjiang University, Xu Youyu chuckled and shook her head—Qianjiang University wasn't Fuyi High; there was no way he could stroll around like a king the moment he enrolled.

As she read the end, Xu Youyu smiled slyly—apparently her massage technique was still pretty good.

As for the punishment?

Ha ha~ She and the little junior were truly in sync—she'd written the same thing in her letter this afternoon, and she wondered how Li Luo would react when he read it.

Xu Youyu smiled warmly, tucked the letter away, along with Ying Chanxi's, into the drawer reserved for pen-pal letters.

At that moment, Li Luo and the other two returned.

After leaving Fuyi High, the three stopped by the market and bought some ingredients.

Back home, Li Luo carried the groceries into the kitchen.

Ying Chanxi hurried after him.

But because Ying Chanxi had just bought a new apron, Yan Zhusheng could also put one on and help out when he entered the kitchen.

Xu Youyu heard the commotion outside, stepped out, and saw the three bustling in the kitchen—she grinned and said, "Working hard, huh? Don't forget to call me when dinner's ready~"

"We're cooking. You'll be washing dishes later," Li Luo chuckled.

"Fine, I'll wash," Xu Youyu snorted. "Don't forget to read the pen-pal letters later."

"Got it."

"You wrote letters again?" Yan Zhusheng asked curiously.

"Yeah, it's a tradition of the Literature Club," Li Luo nodded.

"He got tons of letters today—over a dozen girls sent them," Ying Chanxi added.

"Oh?" Yan Zhusheng tilted his head toward Li Luo. "Why so many?"

"Because someone's just too outstanding," Ying Chanxi huffed. "He could've just given a normal self-introduction, but no—he had to show off."

"Now everyone remembers him, especially all those first-year girls, completely smitten."

"Especially the vice-class-president of Class 8, Jiang Liuxian—her face turned beet red when she handed him the letter."

"Cough." Li Luo quickly cut off Ying Chanxi's small complaint. "It's not nice to talk about her behind her back. The pen-pal letters are just tradition—she sent them, I didn't plan to reply."

"Not replying isn't polite," Ying Chanxi said. "You'll see her often—seems rude."

"No need," Li Luo shook his head. "I only reply to you and Senior."

"What about me?" Yan Zhusheng blinked.

"You don't write letters."

"I'll write one now."

"Don't mess around—hand me that bottle of vinegar," Li Luo said. "You're not even in the Literature Club. First, go mingle with the new Rock Club members—otherwise, as club president, you're silent and they won't know what to say."

"You'd say something."

"I'm not always around."

"What about Xie Shuchen?"

"Poor Xie really got lucky having you as club president."

…

After dinner that night.

Xu Youyu went to the kitchen to wash dishes; Yan Zhusheng, with nothing else to do, followed in to help.

Seeing Yan Zhusheng helping, Xu Youyu tearfully hugged him, nuzzling against his chest—Yan Zhusheng barely pushed her away, glanced at the spot where his face had been pressed, then looked down, suddenly feeling less like helping his senior wash dishes.

Meanwhile, Li Luo and Ying Chanxi had sat down at the living room desk, each pulling out the envelopes they'd received that day.

Unlike Li Luo and Xu Youyu, Ying Chanxi's upbringing prevented her from ignoring those pen-pal letters.

So after pulling out a dozen letters, she set aside Li Luo's and Xu Youyu's letters first, planning to read them later.

Then, after carefully reading every other letter, she wrote detailed replies, explicitly declining each pen pal invitation.

In comparison, Li Luo's approach was much simpler: he flipped through the other letters casually, ran them through his mind, and set them aside.

Even Jiang Liuxian's carefully written letter didn't much concern him.

It was just some curiosity about him, a desire to know him a little better, that sort of thing.

If it had been the Li Luo of his past life, a delicate, lovely girl writing him such a letter would've probably stirred his heart.

But the Li Luo of now clearly knew what he wanted, so there was no need to pay attention to girls like Jiang Liuxian.

Thinking this, after finishing the girls' letters, Li Luo glanced at the other three letters from boys.

I have to say, once we got to the guys' side, things were a lot more normal.

Li Luo thought for a moment, still decided not to reply, and turned to open Xu Youyu's letter.

【Dear little freshman:】

【A year has flown by in the blink of an eye.】

【Hard to imagine that just a year ago, we were still fellow authors.】

【A year later, you're already a big-name writer with over thirty thousand average subscriptions~】

【I wonder when I'll ever catch up to you—it feels like if I blink once, you've zoomed far, far ahead.】

【But at least I've been doing reasonably well, right?】

【Thanks to your chapter promotion help, I've successfully reached ten thousand subscriptions, and my numbers keep improving.】

【As for becoming a big-name writer, I don't know if I'll have a chance within three years.】

【After a year, I'll have to take the college entrance exam. It's a bit regretful—I won't be able to take classes with you three in the same grade anymore.】

【But if we end up in the same major at university, maybe we can take an elective together~】

【Oh, by the way, about our bet on reaching ten thousand subscriptions—I already thought of the punishment a long time ago.】

【But I can't make you fulfill it until I get to university, so you'll have to wait a little longer~】

【Hehe~ Just thinking about it makes me eager.】

【I hope you won't back out when the time comes.】

【Hahaha~】

【—Your loving senior~】

The earlier parts of the letter were perfectly normal.

But when he reached the end, Li Luo's face darkened—he wondered what kind of punishment required waiting until Xu Youyu got to university to be carried out.

Li Luo pondered for a long while but couldn't figure it out.

When he saw the signature at the bottom, he immediately covered the letter with his hand, folded it awkwardly, and slipped it back into the envelope, afraid Ying Chanxi or Yan Zhusheng might see.

Senior, really… "Your loving senior~"? She doesn't even respect the proper letter format!

"What's wrong?" Ying Chanxi was still writing her reply, and seeing Li Luo's odd expression, she asked curiously, "What did your senior write?"

"Nothing." Li Luo smoothed his expression and shook his head. "Now it's your turn."

"Oh." Ying Chanxi blinked, her cheeks slightly flushed—not because she'd written anything embarrassing, but because Li Luo was reading her letter right in front of her, and that made her, the writer, a little self-conscious. "I'll go back to my room."

"Why are you running off?" Li Luo asked, puzzled.

"My desk in the room is more comfortable for writing." Ying Chanxi grabbed her pile of letters and fled back to the bedroom, then called out toward the living room desk, "Tell me when you're done!"

"Got it."

Li Luo's reply was automatic, but her behavior had piqued his curiosity.

He set the senior's letter aside, picked up Ying Chanxi's letter, carefully tore open the envelope, and pulled out a single sheet of paper.

He spread it flat on the desk and began reading closely.

【Stupid lump:】

Li Luo: "..."

Never mind the rest—when would this pen pal letter salutation ever become normal?

He mentally grumbled, then kept reading.

【It's been sixteen years since we met~】

【After all this time, I still feel like I have so much to say.】

【But I don't know where to start if I say it all at once.】

【I'll just write whatever comes to mind.】

【This new semester, I'm really happy we're back in the same class.】

【Even though we're not desk partners again, sitting in front of you isn't bad.】

【When you play with my hair, I sometimes angrily hit you—but I'm not really mad, don't you dare misunderstand.】

【Of course, of course, I'm not saying I like you playing with my hair—I never said that.】

【I just let you do it because your braiding skills are decent, and Xin Yan said it looks nice, so that's why—I mean, that's all.】

【But one thing still makes me angry: you stole the class monitor position!】

【Hmph!】

【This is the first time in ten years of school that I didn't become class monitor—my streak got broken by you!】

【But thinking about it, if someone had to break it, I'm actually glad it was you.】

【If you'd beaten me fairly, that'd be even better!】

【Just think of all those dirty tricks you used—so sneaky!】

【Next, I'm running for student council president—I'll be the first vice-class-monitor ever elected president at Fu Yi High. It's so embarrassing. It's all your fault.】

Hmm... let me think if there's anything else.

Oh right, we still need to talk about your novel writing.

I heard you've done even better lately since Aunt Yuan got on the singing stage?

Dad says your book made a ton of money, but honestly, I don't really care about that.

I just know your books are amazing—I really love the character Shen Dongdong.

But sometimes, when I read too much, I get a little angry because you made her too much like me.

But I know some of the things I've done, some of the choices I've made—I'm not satisfied with them at all.

And yet Shen Dongdong makes the same choices, so sometimes I end up both angry and laughing.

But then I think it's you who wrote her, and wrote her so much like me, and I feel a little happy.

At least this proves you truly understand me—some details feel like you know me better than I do myself. I never noticed these little habits until I read your book and realized I had them.

Mm!

Anyway, congratulations—you've achieved so much in both your studies and your novel career, and I'm truly happy for you.

Also, I really like your new book, Little Joys, but don't make Qiao Yingzi suffer too much—I almost cried reading it.

I think your book is written really well; someday I'll make Dad buy the rights to it and turn it into a TV drama—it'll be way better than any other drama his company makes.

Speaking of that, I feel a tiny bit disappointed? Maybe it's disappointment.

After writing so much, I suddenly realize you've already gone so far—I wonder if I can still keep up with you.

That sounds a bit overly sentimental.

But I hope we'll always be together.

Don't you think so?

—Chanxi