Chapter 397: Yan Zhusheng

Li Luo and Yan Zhusheng did not realize they were being followed.

So Yan Zhusheng also didn't pull out her phone to check QQ messages.

Of course, even if she had noticed, Yan Zhusheng probably wouldn't have cared much.

After Li Luo held her hand and they passed through ticket check into the theater, Yan Zhusheng led him confidently to the back row.

When Li Luo was pulled into the seat by Yan Zhusheng, he fell into thought, wondering why this seat felt so familiar.

It felt like they had just been here this morning.

"Popcorn," Yan Zhusheng said, cradling a bucket of popcorn and pinching a piece to hold it at Li Luo's lips.

Li Luo instinctively reached out to take it, but since she'd placed it at his mouth, he simply opened it.

After feeding him one piece, Yan Zhusheng didn't eat one herself like Ying Chanxi would—instead, she tilted the popcorn bucket slightly toward Li Luo.

Seeing this, Li Luo instinctively reached out to take one himself.

But before he could bring it to his mouth, Yan Zhusheng bent her head and bit it off.

Her teeth lightly nipped his finger, and his fingertip seemed brushed by a soft, pink tongue.

Li Luo's heart trembled instantly.

Yan Zhusheng stole a glance at Li Luo's reaction, thinking: the content in her senior sister's books wasn't all nonsense—there were still plenty of useful things worth studying and practicing.

The two of them, affectionately intertwined in the couple's seat, soon finished the theater's advertisements—the movie began.

The theater darkened. "Our Times" started.

It was slightly different from Ying Chanxi this morning.

While watching the movie, Yan Zhusheng rarely immersed herself in the characters, so she didn't cry like Ying Chanxi had.

Li Luo had originally wondered if he'd get to see Yan Zhusheng cry today.

But the film's plot failed to move her—she watched it with a completely blank expression, as if observing the story of someone from another world.

Only when Lin Zhenxin helplessly watched Xu Taiyu announce his relationship with the campus beauty, and Yuan Wanqing's "A Small Luck" played during that heart-wrenching scene, did Yan Zhusheng's emotions flicker slightly.

But it wasn't because of Lin Zhenxin's sorrow—she simply recalled some past events.

"Why did she cry?" Yan Zhusheng turned to Li Luo. "I don't understand."

"Because Lin Zhenxin truly loved Xu Taiyu, but he already had someone else," Li Luo said.

"Then let all three of them be together?" Yan Zhusheng tilted her head.

"Uh…" By heaven, though Li Luo had never dated or chatted with many girls in either life, he could swear that among a hundred girls, not one would ask a question like Yan Zhusheng's.

It left him both amused and exasperated.

After a moment's thought, he replied: "If Xu Taiyu truly loved Lin Zhenxin, and also truly loved the campus beauty, do you think the three of them could be together?"

"Of course," Yan Zhusheng nodded.

"But what if the campus beauty disagrees?" Li Luo asked.

"Why would she disagree?"

"If all three are together, Lin Zhenxin will take half of Xu Taiyu's attention—she'll get less, so naturally she won't want it."

"Is that so?" Yan Zhusheng shook her head. "Actually, no one takes half. You can't split a person in two and divide him evenly—each person gets the whole Xu Taiyu."

"But right now, like this, I can only accompany you to the movie," Li Luo changed his approach. "Especially in a couple's seat—I can't sit with two girls at once."

"Under these circumstances, you want to sit with me."

"Then what about the other girl?"

Yan Zhusheng seemed to grasp something, yet she still said: "But I have my own things to do—I can't always be by your side. Ying Chanxi and my senior sister are the same."

"No one can monopolize Li Luo's twenty-four hours—so no one is stealing from anyone else."

"Do you think Lu Jiahao steals your math teacher when he asks the teacher a question?"

"If a teacher can be shared, why can't a husband?"

Li Luo: "...?"

Yan Zhusheng's question, though seemingly illogical at first, left Li Luo momentarily unable to refute it.

He even found it somewhat reasonable.

Though he himself hoped all three girls could think this way, he'd never dared to expect it.

He hadn't imagined Yan Zhusheng actually believed this—before, he'd thought she was just naive; now, it seemed she truly meant it.

After exchanging views, Yan Zhusheng emerged victorious.

Then Yan Zhusheng leaned back against Li Luo's chest, Yuan Wanqing's song playing in her ears—she listened to her mother's version of "A Small Luck," fell into thought, then whispered: "Next time, I won't let anyone take away the songs you wrote."

Li Luo heard this, paused, then laughed softly, ruffling her hair: "Alright, I'm looking forward to your progress."

Actually, when the film crew of "Our Times" approached Chongran Culture, Li Luo wrote "A Small Luck," but he didn't immediately give it to Yuan Wanqing—he first had Yan Zhusheng record a version.

Although strictly speaking, Yan Zhusheng's rendition of "A Small Luck" lacked a certain emotional resonance, it was still very beautiful.

Li Luo thought it was perfectly suitable as the film's theme song and insert track.

But the production team still wanted Yuan Wanqing to record a version—even if it cost more.

Their request was reasonable, and after informing Li Luo, they sincerely approached Yuan Wanqing and invited her to sing the song.

Clearly.

Compared to the still-inexperienced Yan Zhusheng, Yuan Wanqing was truly exceptional in emotional expression.

Even listening to Yan Zhusheng's version alone, you'd find no obvious flaw.

But the moment Yuan Wanqing's voice began, the director of "Our Times" immediately brightened, slammed his table, and shouted: "This one—this version!"

The feeling was right.

In fact, it truly was.

Yuan Wanqing's version of "A Small Luck"—from the youthful nostalgia at the beginning, to the melancholy sighs later, to the sudden realization and regret at the chorus climax—

Everything was perfect.

Even Li Luo, who had some bias toward Yan Zhusheng, couldn't say in front of the production team that Yan Zhusheng's version was better.

In the end, Yan Zhusheng was defeated by his own mother.

He could only hand the original version of "My Sassy Girl" over to Yuan Wanqing.

Now, watching the film's scenes on screen and hearing his mother's moving singing, Yan Zhusheng felt happy—at least the song's impact hadn't tarnished Chongran's reputation.

If he had sung it himself… Yan Zhusheng thought… it probably wouldn't have been as striking.

Thinking of this, Yan Zhusheng pressed his lips together and felt a little sad, wishing he could match his mother's standard, and one day become Chongran's true spokesperson for her new songs.

…

After watching this slightly heartbreaking scene, Li Luo felt thirsty and picked up the drink beside him.

When Yan Zhusheng saw Li Luo pick up the drink on his left, he leaned over and bit the straw, taking a few sips.

Then he passed his own drink to Li Luo's lips, feeding him.

Li Luo: "... Why do we have to feed each other drinks?"

"For research."

"I really appreciate it."

"No need to thank me—I'm doing research too."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm still learning emotional control in singing," Yan Zhusheng said seriously. "Pretending to be your boyfriend helps me pour more feeling into love songs."

"I see," Li Luo nodded as if suddenly understanding. "You're really clever to think of this method."

"Of course," Yan Zhusheng nodded as if it were obvious, then added, "So after the movie, let's go sing at KTV, okay?"

"Are you going to KTV to practice your emotional control?" Li Luo laughed.

"Will you help me?" Yan Zhusheng turned his head, tilting it innocently toward him.

"How am I supposed to help?"

"The director says I don't sing as well as my mom, but I think I can still try harder."

"For example?"

"We'll talk about it after the movie."

"Fine."

In the film's final scene, Lin Zhenxin attends Liu Dehua's concert and finally reunites with Xu Taiyu.

Their story isn't over yet.

But the movie has ended.

Yan Zhusheng turned to look at Li Luo, meeting his gaze.

Li Luo noticed her gaze and smiled. "Did you like it?"

"I liked it."

"Honest?"

"With you, it was good."

"What if you watched it alone?"

"The song was good."

Li Luo: "... You're quite good at compliments."

He didn't believe everyone in this film's target audience would necessarily like it.

Just like Yan Zhusheng now—when she didn't accept certain plot logic, she couldn't immerse herself, and her evaluation of the film was average.

But someone like Ying Chanxi could easily slip into the heroine's perspective, following her story, laughing and crying along, emotions flowing effortlessly with the director's rhythm.

Naturally, they'd think the film was wonderful.

In essence, it's the same as Online Novels.

A thousand people see a thousand Hamlets.

Still, Li Luo asked curiously: "So you think Lin Zhenxin could've been with both Xu Taiyu and the school beauty, and that's why you didn't like it?"

"It's not just that," Yan Zhusheng shook his head. "I just find it strange—why did Lin Zhenxin initially like the school hunk, and why did Xu Taiyu initially like the school beauty? If they both changed their minds later, doesn't that mean they didn't really like them that much to begin with?"

For girls like Yan Zhusheng, such inexplicable "liking" from others has always been a nuisance.

So when they see this kind of plot, they probably find it annoying.

From the school beauty's perspective, Xu Taiyu's initial behavior—showing up with a gang of buddies, riding motorcycles around her, shouting to get her to be his girlfriend—

To Yan Zhusheng, this felt boring, even repulsive.

"Hmm…" Li Luo paused, thinking Yan Zhusheng's view wasn't unreasonable, but he said, "It's probably just a kind of adolescent mix of hormonal interference and longing for something beautiful."

"Or perhaps it's merely admiration for an outstanding opposite-sex person, turning into fondness—but not yet true love."

"Most people mistake this fluttering feeling for love, right?"

"But Lin Zhenxin and Xu Taiyu, through daily proximity, gradually came to understand each other, drawn in by each other's personalities and other qualities."

"That kind of love is probably what counts as true love."

"If Lin Zhenxin had truly had the chance to be with the school hunk, and Xu Taiyu with the school beauty—"

"Perhaps after spending time together, they'd break their own illusions and suddenly realize they never loved the other as much as they imagined."

"It's like a painting."

"From afar, it looks beautiful."

"But when you lean close, pressing your face to the canvas, you only see rough layers of pigment, unable to even make out the shapes."

The theater lights had just turned on.

Yan Zhusheng listened to Li Luo's words, her gaze lingering on his face, never blinking as she stared at him.

Li Luo felt uneasy under her stare, raised his hand, and pinched her cheek: "What's wrong? Did I say something wrong?"

"No problems," Yan Zhusheng said, her lips pouting from the pinch. "I think you're absolutely right—I'm learning and understanding."

"No wonder you're my Yan classmate—no matter what, you're always so eager to learn," Li Luo said, ruffling her hair with a laugh.

"You're still my Li classmate," Yan Zhusheng said, raising her hand to pat his head, then added, "In music, I'm your Yan teacher."

"Alright, alright, Yan teacher," Li Luo laughed. "So next we're going to the KTV to practice your emotional control?"

"Mm," Yan Zhusheng nodded. "I need your cooperation, Li classmate, so I can sing better."

"Fine, I'll do whatever Yan teacher says."

"Li classmate is so well-behaved."

……

Inside the Yintai Department Store, on the fourth floor, the arcade.

Ren Zheng and Hua Xiuxiu were keeping company with Fang Chen and Lin Yuan here.

At the moment, the four of them were at the basketball machine: Ren Zheng and Fang Chen on one team, Hua Xiuxiu and Lin Yuan on the other, competing for points.

But halfway through, Lin Yuan suddenly stopped shooting.

Hua Xiuxiu looked at him in confusion and couldn't help asking, "Why'd you stop? Keep going."

"Look over there," Lin Yuan pointed toward the elevator at the arcade's exit, where two figures were descending from the fifth floor.

Fang Chen and Ren Zheng realized it too, and all four hurried to the arcade entrance.

At that moment, Li Luo and Yan Zhusheng were holding hands, riding the elevator downward. The four leaned over the fourth-floor elevator opening, watching the two familiar figures descend, murmuring to themselves.

"Are they done with the movie and heading home?"

"Who knows."

"Post the live update in the group."

"Should we follow them?"

"Nah, it's just the usual stuff."

"Did they kiss?"

"They kissed."

"If Xi Xi kissed, I'm sure Zhusheng did too."

"I wonder if Xu Youyu has ever kissed anyone."

And as the four whispered among themselves,

Li Luo and Yan Zhusheng left the main entrance of the Yintai Department Store and entered a nearby KTV, reserving a small private room.

But as soon as they entered the room, Yan Zhusheng didn't immediately pick "Little Luck"—instead, she chose other songs first to warm up her voice.

They had finished lunch and gone out shopping and watching a movie, finishing around three in the afternoon.

Evening self-study at Fu Yi High School began at six-thirty.

So they only needed to get home before six.

Thus Yan Zhusheng let loose, savoring the joy of singing.

Occasionally, she pulled Li Luo into an unspoken duet.

Just then, Li Luo's phone vibrated.

A call.

Li Luo thought it might be Ying Chanxi calling.

But when he pulled out his phone and checked the caller ID, he found it was Xu Youyu.

"Hello, senior?"

"Li Luo, where'd you run off to? Zhusheng isn't home either—I was just about to look for you," Xu Youyu asked, puzzled. "What's that noise on your end?"

"Uh… singing at the KTV," Li Luo said, glancing at Yan Zhusheng for permission. Seeing her nod, he added, "Want to come join us?"

"Singing at the KTV?" Xu Youyu thought for a moment, then laughed. "You two have fun—I won't crash. I can't sing anyway; I'd just sit there awkwardly."

"Alright," Li Luo nodded. "When Xi Xi asks later, tell her we'll be home around six."

"OK."

After hanging up, Li Luo put away his phone, watched Yan Zhusheng keep singing, and glanced at the next song.

And as luck would have it—it was "Little Luck."

But just as the song ended and the instrumental for "Little Luck" was about to play, Yan Zhusheng pressed pause herself, turning to look at Li Luo.

"What's wrong?" Li Luo looked at her, puzzled. "Aren't you singing?"

"I am—but first, let's try emotional control," Yan Zhusheng said, her face serious.

"So how exactly are you going to control it?" Li Luo asked, suspicious.

"Don't you remember? We tried this once a long time ago?"

Li Luo: "... I suddenly have a bad feeling."

Seeing his expression, Yan Zhusheng knew he'd guessed—so she didn't bother with pretense. She straddled him directly, blinking innocently as she said:

"I don't even know when it started."

"It just happened, quietly, without any sign."

"For me, this feeling just appeared, with no clear dividing line."

"That's why I didn't like the movie we just watched—I don't believe Lin Zhenxin and Xu Taiyu's initial crushes on the school's top boy and girl were real love."

"But…" Yan Zhusheng bit her lip, her cheeks slightly flushed, whispering softly, "My feelings for you are certain."

"Li Luo, I like you."

"Can you be my boyfriend?"

Although she knew Yan Zhusheng was trying to make him reject her, so she could slip into that melancholy mood and pour enough emotion into singing "Little Luck,"

but after hearing Yan Zhusheng's words, Li Luo couldn't help but be touched somewhere deep inside, in a soft corner of his heart.

It even made him feel as if Yan Zhusheng was telling the truth.

But just as Li Luo was momentarily stunned, he saw Yan Zhusheng blink at him, urging him on.

So he could only sigh and say, "Sorry, I can't accept your confession."

The moment he refused her,

he felt his lips lightly brushed, like a dragonfly touching down.

The next second,

the instrumental of "Little Luck" began to play.