Chapter 414: Dear, Please Take Care of It

At noon on New Year's Day, Lin Xiuhong and Cui Suling came together to Bihai Lanting, bought many groceries, and got busy in the kitchen.

For some reason, when she discovered Xu Youyu was still sleeping in, Cui Suling didn't rush in and yank open the blankets and curtains as she usually did.

Instead, she opened Xu Youyu's bedroom door, stood at the threshold, and knocked lightly, reminding her to wake up and get ready for meals.

At this moment, Li Luo and Ying Chanxi returned from outside.

Li Luo helped Ying Chanxi pack up the filming equipment, while Ying Chanxi walked straight into the kitchen to assist Lin Xiuhong and the others.

Seeing Ying Chanxi enter, Lin Xiuhong greeted her with a smile, then asked curiously, "Xixi."

"What is it, Lin Yi?"

"Why does your face seem a bit red today?"

"Oh oh… this…?" Ying Chanxi's cheeks flushed even redder under Lin Xiuhong's gaze, "I went out with Li Luo to film a music video—maybe the cold wind reddened my face."

"Music video?" Lin Xiuhong had never heard of such a thing before; this was the first time Ying Chanxi mentioned it.

After Ying Chanxi explained, Lin Xiuhong nodded in understanding and smiled, "Then I'll have to go look it up."

"This…" Hearing Lin Xiuhong say that, Ying Chanxi's face instantly flushed crimson—she suddenly remembered the scenes in the music video where she held hands with Li Luo, hugged him, and kissed him.

If Lin Xiuhong saw it… oh no, so embarrassing!

"What are you two chatting about?" Cui Suling had just woken up Xu Youyu and returned to the kitchen; seeing Ying Chanxi's flushed face, she asked curiously.

"Oh, you don't know?" Lin Xiuhong pulled Cui Suling aside, grinning, "These kids secretly filmed a music video—the kind made for songs."

"Oh, I know—did Xixi film it?"

"Yeah, you can watch it online directly."

"Then I'll go watch it too."

Listening to the two aunts' chatter, Ying Chanxi wished she could dig a hole and crawl into it—thinking that her elders would see the music video, her face burned as if she could fry an egg on it.

But after lunch, once Ying Chanxi uploaded all the footage from the camera to her laptop, she couldn't help but open a few of the video clips.

First video.

The camera showed a street under winter sunlight; Ying Chanxi ran ahead, turned around, and looked back at Li Luo, her face beaming with a bright smile.

The slanting sunlight fell on her cheek as Li Luo pulled her into his arms and playfully kissed her.

Second video clip.

The two stood before a glass display case outside a clothing store, gazing at a beautiful dress.

Ying Chanxi stood in front, pressing her face against the glass, eyes full of longing for the dress, while Li Luo stood behind her, leaning over her shoulder to say something.

Ying Chanxi turned around in delight, looked at Li Luo, received his nod of approval, then happily kissed him on the cheek, and afterward cupped his face and kissed him deeply.

Then came the third video.

The two argued on the street corner; Li Luo grabbed Ying Chanxi's hand, but she yanked it away, leaving only her retreating back as she hurried off.

But Li Luo immediately rushed forward, yanked Ying Chanxi back, and just as she was about to snap at him, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her fiercely.

Sitting at her desk in her bedroom, Ying Chanxi watched these three video clips repeatedly, biting her lip, cheeks flushed with embarrassment, yet unable to look away—she wanted to watch them again and again.

Since Li Luo's birthday, Ying Chanxi had held back for over a week, nearly reaching the point where just seeing his lips made her want to lean in and kiss them.

After filming today's music video, this obsession with Li Luo's lips had greatly eased.

But it really felt so good…

Ying Chanxi touched her own lips, stared at the video footage, her gaze growing hazy, her body warming up.

It would be nice if we could film music videos every day.

As she thought this, the flush on her cheeks refused to fade.

…

After New Year's Day, the final major campus event of the semester at Fuyi High School was successfully completed.

After the holiday ended and students returned to school, they began sprinting toward final exams.

Students in Gao Yi and Gao Er were fine, but those in Gao San truly began to feel the pressure.

Especially as the countdown to the college entrance exam on the blackboard dwindled day by day—though a winter break still lay in between—the remaining hundred-plus days of high school made the threat of the exam feel ever more urgent.

But Xu Youyu still maintained her usual relaxed routine.

She attended classes and reviewed normally, returned home to write and advance her plot, and slept in because she wrote too late.

Probably due to the upbringing from Xu Rongsheng since childhood, Xu Youyu's knowledge base was quite rich, and she rarely relied on rote memorization when studying humanities.

For subjects like history, since she was already deeply familiar with it and had read numerous classic historical texts since childhood, Xu Youyu could effortlessly connect the key points into a timeline.

Even when multitasking—spending extra energy writing her novel—it didn't affect her school performance.

As the end-of-term exams drew near, Li Luo and Xu Youyu received a message from the editor Qianzhou.

【Qianzhou】: (screenshot)

【Qianzhou】: The official invitation to the annual meeting. We need your formal response to confirm whether you'll attend.

【EarlySleepPresidentGao】: Got it~

That evening, while Xu Youyu was writing, she received the invitation from Qianzhou.

She opened the image and saw clearly written: "Wenxue Group 2015 Annual Summary Meeting," below which read: "Sincerely inviting EarlySleepPresidentGao to attend."

The pen name "EarlySleepPresidentGao" was highlighted and enlarged in gold font—quite the prestige.

But when she saw the specific date and location, Xu Youyu froze.

【Meeting Time: January 30–31, 2016】

【Meeting Location: Edison Resort Villa Hotel, Qiongzhou City】

【EarlySleepPresidentGao】: Wasn't the annual meeting in Changning City this year? Why is it in Qiongzhou City?

【Qianzhou】: The location was just finalized. The company's performance was good this year, so they picked a more resort-like place to reward you all.

【EarlySleepPresidentGao】: Qiongzhou is so far away—it's an island, right? Do I need to fly?

【Qianzhou】: I've booked your round-trip flights; the company has your personal info, so I can buy the tickets for you directly.

【EarlyToBedGrowsTaller】: I know, I'll confirm again, I'll reply soon!

【Qianzhou】: No problem.

To Xu Youyu's eyes, she was still a student, and such matters definitely required informing her family.

But he hadn't expected that Xu Youyu wasn't asking her parents—she was asking Li Luo.

Still, when Xu Youyu hurried to Li Luo's bedroom and opened the door, she found he wasn't inside.

She knocked on Ying Chanxi's door, opened it, and found Ying Chanxi already out of the shower, lying in bed hugging a panda plushie, about to sleep—also no Li Luo.

By the time Xu Youyu reached Yan Zhusheng's bedroom door, the piano room's door was already open.

Li Luo walked out, said something to Yan Zhusheng inside the piano room, then headed toward the bedroom, wiping his mouth.

Seeing this, Xu Youyu raised an eyebrow and grinned: "Is Zhusheng teaching you piano again?"

"Y-yes." Li Luo nodded nervously, then changed the subject: "What's up, senior? Why are you standing here in the hallway?"

"I need to talk to you."

"What about?"

"Haven't you seen the editor's message yet?"

"What message?"

"Go check it first."

Xu Youyu pulled Li Luo into his main bedroom, made him sit at the desk, and opened QQ to check the messages.

As expected, Qianzhou had also sent Li Luo an invitation, explaining the situation.

Li Luo read the invitation, then his gaze sharpened—he noticed something odd.

【Chongran】: Going to Qiongzhou City for the annual meeting? Are they feeling generous this year?

【Qianzhou】: The company's flush with cash now—round-trip flights are covered.

Seeing this, Li Luo turned to look at Xu Youyu beside him: "Senior, are you going too? Qiongzhou is pretty far."

After all, it's the southernmost island in the country, still quite distant from Yuhang City.

Even by plane, it'll take about three hours.

"I'm fine with it," Xu Youyu said.

"You're sure?"

"What difference does it make?" Xu Youyu snorted. "We don't get winter break until the 29th—I already told my parents I'll stay a few extra days here before heading back. No problem."

"Then I'll reply," Li Luo said.

"Go ahead," Xu Youyu pulled out her phone, ready to reply to Qianzhou too. "If you're going, I'll tell him too."

"OK."

【Chongran】: I'm fine with it.

【Qianzhou】: Alright, once the tickets are booked, I'll let you know.

【Qianzhou】: As for the hotel, since Qiongzhou City picked a high-end one this year, all rooms are double-occupancy. Do you have a specific author you'd like to share a room with?

Shortly after Xu Youyu confirmed, Qianzhou sent her the same message.

So while Li Luo was still thinking about which author he knew well enough to share a room with…

Xu Youyu was already typing furiously on her phone.

Just as Li Luo was struggling with his decision, Qianzhou spoke again.

【Qianzhou】: You're sure???

Seeing Qianzhou's message, Li Luo froze—but beside him, Xu Youyu had already leaned over, giggling, and tapped a few keys on his keyboard.

【Chongran】: Yeah.

【Qianzhou】: Fine, fine… but don't get me into trouble, okay? Take it easy.

Li Luo: "...?"

"What did you tell the editor?!"

"I didn't say much," Xu Youyu blinked innocently, then grinned slyly. "I just told him I'm dating Chongran, so could we share a room?"

"You… lying like that isn't good."

"When we go to the annual meeting, don't you want a couple's experience?" Xu Youyu leaned down, winking at him suggestively. "Won't we be a couple then? If we each share a room with other authors, it'll be such a hassle to visit each other."

Hearing this, Li Luo actually found it somewhat reasonable—his resolve wavered instantly.

"Come on, I'm not scared—why are you scared?" Xu Youyu rolled her eyes, shoved him aside, and typed his reply for him.

【Chongran】: Don't worry, I've got self-control—I won't do anything reckless.

【Qianzhou】: Alright then, I'll let you know once room assignments are finalized.

With that settled, Li Luo stared at the chat window with the editor and couldn't help a helpless laugh.

Beside him, Xu Youyu stood up, clapped her hands happily, clearly pleased.

"Didn't expect we'd be going to Qiongzhou City for the annual meeting," Xu Youyu sighed, then added, "Isn't it still pretty warm there in winter? Perfect for a winter vacation."

"Winter there's probably only ten to twenty degrees," Li Luo said. "A long-sleeve shirt and a jacket should be enough."

"And beaches~ the ocean~" Xu Youyu's face lit up. "By the way, should I buy a swimsuit?"

"Don't you have a swimsuit, senior?"

"I had one in middle school," Xu Youyu frowned, hugging her chest and glancing down. "I doubt it'd fit now."

Li Luo: "... Thank goodness only I heard that—otherwise it'd be kind of hurtful."

Ying Chanxi and Yan Zhusheng's swimsuits, of course, still fit fine—no worries about sizing.

"Come with me to buy a swimsuit," Xu Youyu whispered into Li Luo's ear. "Darling~ please~"

Saying this, she kissed Li Luo's cheek, then turned with a grin and dashed out of his bedroom.

Only Li Luo remained in the room, thinking of the year-end banquet at the end of the month, the beaches and ocean of Qiongzhou City, sharing a room with Xu Youyu, and her new swimsuit.

It was truly something to look forward to.