Chapter 380: Yan Zhusheng Wants to Grasp His Fate

Xu Youyu recently noticed something a little strange.

Ever since it became December, she felt people's glances at her were odd.

It was… a feeling she couldn't quite put into words.

At first, she didn't think much of it—only occasionally, when locking eyes with Ying Chanxi or Yan Zhusheng, did she sense their looks at her were peculiar.

But she wrote it off as her imagination.

After all, Xu Youyu knew her own assets well—even fellow girls, equally beautiful like Ying Chanxi and Yan Zhusheng, often stole glances at her chest.

So whenever she encountered such strange glances, Xu Youyu didn't take it too seriously.

But because of Ying Chanxi and Yan Zhusheng, Xu Youyu deliberately observed others more closely.

Then, during lunch, she felt Xu Yinghuan and Qiao Xinyan were also sneaking glances at her.

Not only that—others in Li Luo's class seemed to have similar expressions.

Yet after thinking it over, Xu Youyu still couldn't figure out why.

Finally, after some speculation, she reached a conclusion.

Perhaps it was because she'd been so close to Li Luo all along, and now they'd finally realized she was Jiang Ming's prototype?

Xu Youyu comforted herself with this thought.

But this still didn't explain why Ying Chanxi and Yan Zhusheng also looked at her strangely.

However, as Li Luo's birthday drew near and everyone's glances soon returned to normal, Xu Youyu stopped paying much attention to it.

"This is so frustrating."

One Saturday night.

Xu Youyu lay sprawled on Li Luo's bed, scrolling through her phone, occasionally wiggling her toes, sighing dramatically.

Li Luo was writing, and hearing her, he asked curiously, "Why are you sighing like that?"

"I'm picking out your birthday gift," Xu Youyu said, propping her chin on one hand while still scrolling with the other. "I can't decide what to give you."

"You don't have to give me anything."

"No way," Xu Youyu shook her head vigorously. "I have to give you something. How about another box of underwear?"

"I have enough underwear."

"Really?" Xu Youyu chuckled. "But your Doraemon treasure pouch and Pikachu's round face are almost worn through from rubbing."

Hearing this, Li Luo's face darkened. "What are you talking about? My underwear are perfectly fine!"

"Fine, I won't give you underwear this time," Xu Youyu grinned mischievously, then suddenly had an idea. "Do you often write your own XP into your novels?"

"What?"

"Yes or no?"

"Kind of…"

"I get it," Xu Youyu chuckled, immediately opening Taobao to search.

Seeing this, Li Luo felt a bad premonition: "Don't buy me anything weird."

"Relax~ Not weird~ Absolutely not weird~" Xu Youyu found what she wanted, clicked buy without hesitation, then gave him a suggestive glance that made Li Luo's bones tingle.

"Can this gift be opened in front of other people?"

"Probably not…"

"You call that not weird?! What did you even buy?!" Li Luo panicked, jumped up from his chair, lunged onto the bed, and leaned close to see what she'd purchased.

But Xu Youyu pressed her finger down and shut her phone, smirking. "If you knew, how could it be a gift? Birthday presents need surprise."

"I'm afraid it's not a surprise—it's a shock."

"Don't worry, you'll love it," Xu Youyu patted Li Luo's shoulder, feeling unexpectedly excited herself—her cheeks even flushed faintly, a rare hint of shyness.

She immediately rolled over, slid off Li Luo's bed, and shuffled out in her slippers. "Alright, I'm off—don't let me distract you. Keep writing!"

Li Luo watched her escape, his curiosity burning—he desperately wanted to know what his senior had bought.

But since Xu Youyu refused to show him, he was forced to remain in the dark.

Meanwhile, as Xu Youyu returned to her room, the other two girls' bedrooms…

Yan Zhusheng was intently holding her phone, carefully reading someone's novel.

Her focus seemed even greater than during class.

Lying under the covers, she didn't seem to be reading any particular passage—yet her toes inside the blankets occasionally rubbed together.

Occasionally, upon reading certain scenes, Yan Zhusheng would lower her head, glance briefly, then pout irritably, clearly dissatisfied.

On the other side…

Ying Chanxi also held her phone, face flushed red, staring intently despite her embarrassment.

Unlike Yan Zhusheng's studious expression, Ying Chanxi's gaze was dazed—sometimes she read a sentence, couldn't grasp why it was phrased that way or why that word was used.

It took her a long time to process, or she'd check the comments, or sneakily search online, before finally understanding the exact shape of the "car," only to blush furiously at her senior's rhetorical flair.

Before opening this book, Ying Chanxi had assumed her senior's "Literary Era" would be far more serious than Li Luo's novels.

After all, "Literary" and "Era"—in her vocabulary, both sounded lofty, refined.

Who knew combining them produced this book by Xu Youyu!

Compared to Yan Zhusheng, Ying Chanxi read novels more slowly, especially since many sentences required long reflection—making her progress even slower.

After half a month, she'd only finished a hundred chapters.

Tonight, she'd just reached Chapter 135, witnessing firsthand the female lead teasing the male lead with her toes.

These days, online novel censorship wasn't strict—Ying Chanxi finished two full chapters of teasing scenes.

Even… even…

By the end, Ying Chanxi let out a soft, flustered "Eeii~," clutched her panda plush tightly, squeezed her legs together, and rolled around on the bed.

After the wave of embarrassment slightly subsided, Ying Chanxi reread the scene—and still blushed furiously.

She even secretly lifted her foot under the covers, touched her small, pale, tender sole, and wore a shy, slightly confused expression.

She didn't understand why this would feel so pleasant.

And… why would her senior know this?

Had she… tried it herself?

Ying Chanxi suddenly considered this possibility; her expression stiffened instantly, her face tightening as she began to sense a threat.

Zhusheng only occasionally held hands—how had her senior silently gone this far already?

Ying Chanxi found it hard to believe.

But after rereading the detailed descriptions again, she grew suspicious.

If she hadn't practiced it herself, how could her senior have written such an intricate scene?

The kissing scenes Li Luo had written already made Ying Chanxi blush and lose herself in fantasy.

This sudden ambush from her senior's "Literary Era" left Ying Chanxi torn between doubt and embarrassment, her body burning, her mind swirling with questions, as if her brain might melt.

…

"Li Luo, don't look at the camera—look up at the night sky."

December 18, Friday evening.

◆￠O

Before first-period evening self-study began, Ying Chanxi dragged Li Luo out of the classroom.

She claimed publicly they were continuing to film content for the literature club documentary.

But only Li Luo knew the literature club documentary had already been finished days ago.

Yet when Li Luo came downstairs and asked about it, Ying Chanxi replied confidently: "The documentary's done, but what about the MV for 'The Light Chaser' we agreed on?"

Now, Li Luo stood on the lawn, as Ying Chanxi instructed, gazing up at the night sky above, offering the camera a profile shot.

Watching Li Luo's perfect jawline as he tilted his head back, Ying Chanxi bit her lip, staring blankly.

Only when Li Luo's neck grew stiff did he ask if she was done—then Ying Chanxi snapped back, quickly saying OK and telling him to move to the next shot.

When the bell rang signaling the end of first-period evening self-study, Ying Chanxi packed up her equipment and said to Li Luo: "Alright, that's it for today."

"Feels like we're not here to study—we're here to act," Li Luo said, rubbing his head as he walked beside Ying Chanxi toward the classroom building.

"Evening self-study's boring anyway," Ying Chanxi said, bouncing lightly with her camera hanging around her neck. "As long as we keep our grades up, the rest is all free time."

That was true.

Because they'd both scored full marks in three subjects on their first selection exam, Li Luo and Ying Chanxi's college entrance pressure dropped sharply.

For physics, history, and geography, they only needed to show up for class symbolically.

As long as they didn't disrupt the teacher, they could do whatever they wanted during class.

For Chinese, math, and English, Li Luo and Ying Chanxi had already finished studying all the high school curriculum.

Every day, they just did homework for these three subjects.

But even these assignments were finished long before evening self-study—they'd casually completed them during daytime classes.

After Ying Chanxi won a prize in the math competition and gave Teacher Sun a satisfactory report, she was fully freed.

She'd become just as idle as Li Luo.

With more free time, Li Luo noticed he spent far less alone time with Yan Zhusheng—he was often pulled out by Ying Chanxi to film something.

She always used filming as an excuse to tug and pull at him, claiming it was "discussing the scene."

"So today's finished, right?" Li Luo asked. "Are we filming more after this?"

"After this…?" Ying Chanxi paused, then suddenly blushed—she seemed to have thought of something.

But in the darkness, Li Luo didn't notice.

"Tomorrow's Saturday?" Ying Chanxi said. "Your birthday's on the 21st, which is Monday—so we're celebrating it tomorrow."

"Mm." Li Luo nodded. "But how does that relate to filming the MV?"

"Well… tomorrow morning is self-study, afternoon is club activities," Ying Chanxi counted on her fingers. "In the evening, everyone will come to your place to celebrate your birthday, then we'll hang out together."

"After Xin Yan and the others go home, can you come out with me one more time?"

"I'll take you somewhere—I want to film an MV shot there."

As she said this, Ying Chanxi didn't dare look at Li Luo, as if ashamed of something.

But Li Luo walked beside her, unaware of her unease, and simply nodded: "Sure. But where are you taking me? Don't go too far at night."

"Not far at all—just nearby."

"So where?"

"I won't tell you!"

Watching Ying Chanxi skip ahead, Li Luo smiled silently and didn't press further.

…

The next day, Saturday.

To be honest, Li Luo had no habit of celebrating his birthday.

In his memory, only in elementary school had his parents ever thrown him a birthday party—after that, they rarely did.

In middle school, the most he got was going out to play basketball with Zhao Rongjun, using his birthday as an excuse to get him to buy him a drink.

Only Ying Chanxi remembered his birthday every year, always preparing a gift.

wWW??????? C〇

But that habit, he himself had shattered in his third year of middle school.

In high school, college, and even after graduation, Li Luo only realized he'd aged another year when he received birthday greetings from telecom companies.

Aside from that, in Li Luo's memory, he had only received gifts and birthday wishes during the two or three years he knew Xu Youyu.

Hmm… Yan Zhusheng had too.

But she just bought him a birthday cake, saying it was an employee welfare perk.

Yes, besides that, there truly was nothing else.

But unlike his previous life,

in this reborn life, Li Luo did not sink into self-destruction during high school, and instead made a group of close friends.

After the rock club's afternoon practice ended, and they finished rehearsing the song "Sun" for the New Year's Eve performance, Li Luo and Yan Zhusheng tidied up and prepared to leave the activity room.

But Yan Zhusheng deliberately took her time packing, waiting until Lin Suifeng and the others had all left, leaving only Li Luo and herself in the room, before she slowly picked up her backpack.

"Let's go," Li Luo glanced toward the classroom building outside the window. "Chanxi and the others are coming this way."

"Then they haven't arrived yet," Yan Zhusheng leaned over to look, then tugged on Li Luo's sleeve, turning him to face her.

"What's wrong?"

"Birthday gift," Yan Zhusheng set down her backpack, pulled out a bag, and took out a brand-new orange scarf.

"Huh?" Li Luo blinked, looking down at the scarf, its stitching slightly rough, and asked, "Where did you buy this?"

"I didn't buy it," Yan Zhusheng bit her lip. "I made it myself. Stand still, don't move."

"Huh?" Li Luo was startled, watching Yan Zhusheng stand before him, earnestly rising on her toes to wrap the scarf around his neck. He fell silent. "When did you learn to knit scarves?"

"I asked Lin Yi to teach me," Yan Zhusheng finished fastening it, then adjusted the style with her hands, stepped back half a pace to examine him, and nodded in satisfaction. "I worked on it for a long time—glad I finished in time."

"Mmm…" Li Luo lowered his head and rubbed the warm scarf around his neck.

Seeing he didn't speak, Yan Zhusheng's face showed rare concern: "Is it… not well knitted? If it's uncomfortable, forget it—I made it for the first time. I'll try again next time—"

"It's very warm," Li Luo reached out, gently pulling her into his arms, one hand stroking the back of her head, pressing her against his chest, the other softly patting her back as he murmured, "I love it. Thank you."

"Mmm…" Yan Zhusheng blinked in his arms, and upon hearing his last words, finally relaxed, snuggling into Li Luo's embrace.

This was likely the first time Yan Zhusheng let Li Luo hold her without any excuse.

She clung tightly to him, greedy for his warmth, his heartbeat, and his…

"What are you doing?!"

Li Luo suddenly shoved Yan Zhusheng away, his face unusually flushed. He stepped back several paces, fumbling awkwardly to adjust his pants, his mind reeling, still lingering on that sudden, soft, tightly squeezed sensation.

Yan Zhusheng, startled by his reaction, froze in place, muttering under her breath: "It's not like it's written…"

"What are you talking about?" Li Luo narrowed his eyes.

Yan Zhusheng immediately shook her head: "N-nothing… just curious."

"Don't touch guys' private parts randomly, got it?" Li Luo took a deep breath to calm himself, though his mind was still a mess.

He had no idea what kind of brain Yan Zhusheng had—she just reached out and squeezed his… without a second thought.

"Uncomfortable?" Yan Zhusheng leaned closer, puzzled. "Did I squeeze too hard?"

"What hard or soft?!" Li Luo's face darkened. "Don't ever touch me there again."

"Oh…" Yan Zhusheng pouted, deflated and still confused.

She must not have read carefully enough—she thought what she did matched the senior's writing exactly. Why was Li Luo so terrified?

The book clearly said this was a pleasant thing.

Yan Zhusheng had already read the later plotlines and could clearly tell that Xu Youyu's male protagonist was modeled after Li Luo.

Yet the real Li Luo reacted this way.

So Yan Zhusheng reached a conclusion:

The senior must never have experienced it herself—she just imagined it all.

Just like Li Luo imagined kissing in the book, but had never actually kissed anyone.

"Li Luo, what are you two doing?"

Ying Chanxi's voice came from the doorway.

She peeked in, saw nothing suspicious between Li Luo and Yan Zhusheng, but immediately noticed the new orange scarf around Li Luo's neck, and her eyes narrowed.

"Li Luo."

"Hmm?"

"Where did you get that scarf?"

"Zhusheng gave it to me as a birthday gift."

"Oh, I see…" Ying Chanxi clenched her teeth, thinking how last year's scarf she gave Li Luo had been so easily replaced.

But remembering her evening date with Li Luo, her mood lifted again; she looked forward to it, and let the small matter slide.

"Come on, Lin Yi and the others are probably cooking—let's go get the cake."