Chapter 433

When the plane taxied to the takeoff position and began accelerating until it lifted off.

Lin Xiuhong, seated by the window, had already gripped the armrest tightly, her whole body tense, heart racing from the strong push-back sensation during acceleration.

Fortunately, Ying Chanxi promptly grasped Lin Xiuhong's hand, offering constant comfort, which gradually calmed her nerves.

Once the plane ascended into the sky, Lin Xiuhong felt her body lighten; the push-back sensation vanished, replaced by a fresh, wondrous feeling as they rose higher.

"Lin Yi, look out the window," Ying Chanxi reminded her.

Lin Xiuhong gazed out the window; the bustling city below shrank in her eyes, becoming tiny and delicate like a model.

When she realized she was truly ascending higher, gradually distancing herself from Yuhang City, she couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion.

In her youth, she had visited other cities, but mostly just wandered aimlessly around the vicinity of Yuhang City.

This was her first time ever leaving Qianjiang Province.

In the past, she often heard relatives chatting about someone's child studying abroad, someone else's child getting into a 985 university out of province, or someone taking their wife and kids on vacation somewhere.

While listening to these stories, Lin Xiuhong felt she had gained some exposure; hearing her relatives brag made her feel as if she too had seen those distant places.

But in truth, she was simply an ordinary middle-aged woman who had never left her province.

More than a year ago, she and her husband still ran a breakfast shop, rising early and working late.

Although the income was enough for household expenses, every day was exhausting—there was no time for travel.

And to travel so far by plane, as they were doing now, would cost a fortune—Lin Xiuhong could never have afforded such an expense.

But now, everything seemed no longer an issue.

With her son so accomplished, she could truly enjoy retirement early.

Thinking of this, Lin Xiuhong felt her eyes slightly dampen.

…

On the other side.

After replying to the three girls' messages, Li Luo saw the plane must have taken off, so he turned over and went back to sleep.

He didn't get up until around 7:30, then washed up, changed clothes, and stepped out of his room.

As soon as he opened the door, two maids waited outside, softly asking him: "Mr. Li, do you have clothes that need changing?"

"Oh, the clothes I took off are in the bathroom."

"Understood. I'll take them to be washed," one maid said, then entered Li Luo's bedroom, tidied up the room, and took his clothes away to launder.

The other maid led Li Luo downstairs to the first-floor dining room for breakfast.

Looking at the exquisite breakfast before him, Li Luo couldn't help but sigh—life for the rich was truly different.

After breakfast, Li Luo followed Butler Liu out the villa gate.

A minibus was already parked at the entrance, waiting.

Li Luo boarded with Butler Liu, only to see him walk straight to the driver's seat—this surprised Li Luo: "Butler Liu, you can drive this too?"

"I've obtained licenses for nearly every type of vehicle I might ever need to operate," Butler Liu smiled. "Mr. Li Luo, please find a seat. We should head to the airport now."

Li Luo sat in the front row, the seat with the best view, watching Butler Liu drive the minibus out of the gated community with ease, thinking being a butler wasn't easy at all.

No wonder his high salary came with such justification.

"Besides driving a minibus, what else can Butler Liu drive?" Li Luo asked curiously.

"I can drive most civilian vehicles," Butler Liu replied with a smile. "I also hold a yacht license for watercraft like yachts and speedboats."

"I've learned something new," Li Luo murmured, thinking the rich truly had to be experienced firsthand.

This trip alone—never mind anything else—would give him material to write about in his novels later.

The private villa wasn't far from the airport.

After driving about twenty minutes, Butler Liu arrived at the airport parking lot, then got out with Li Luo and waited by the exit.

At 8:30, the plane landed successfully.

Li Luo immediately received messages from the three girls.

After replying to each one, another half-hour passed before he finally spotted Lin Xiuhong and the others exiting.

"Mom, over here!"

Li Luo waved to them, walked over, and greeted everyone.

"First time on a plane—how was it?" Li Luo cheerfully took Lin Xiuhong's suitcase and asked.

"What's it gonna be? Same as always," Lin Xiuhong rolled her eyes. "It's just transportation—what's the difference?"

Ying Chanxi glanced at Lin Xiuhong in surprise, recalling how she'd secretly wiped tears on the plane, then quietly smiled and said nothing.

Li Luo just chuckled, didn't argue, and led them to follow Butler Liu to the minibus in the parking lot.

With Butler Liu's help, their luggage was loaded into the trunk; everyone boarded, and he drove toward the private villa.

On the minibus, the four parents chose the front seats as usual—better view, easier to chat and admire the scenery.

Butler Liu deliberately headed toward the coast first, then followed Qiongzhou Bay Road along the shoreline toward the villa.

Lin Xiuhong and Cui Suling in the front gasped in awe, unable to tear their eyes from the beautiful coastline.

To the left of the road rose dense rows of skyscrapers; to the right stretched endless ocean, sandy beaches, and coconut trees.

Though Yuhang City was also near the sea, such a scenic bay with beach and shore—Lin Xiuhong and Cui Suling had never seen anything like it.

Yet in this very moment, the back seat of the minibus presented an entirely different scene.

Butler Liu, still pleased with his maneuver to showcase Qiongzhou City's charm, glanced in the rearview mirror.

There he saw his beloved Mr. Li Luo sitting in the center seat of the back row.

On his right sat a pure, lovely girl; on his left, a refined, beautiful girl.

The girl he'd assumed was Li Luo's girlfriend, however, sat in the front row, smiling cheerfully at the trio behind, seemingly chatting and laughing with them.

Seeing this scene in the rearview mirror, Butler Liu's mind froze for a moment—he couldn't quite process it.

What… is going on here?

Tell the truth.

Actually, after picking up the person, Butler Liu had already felt something strange.

Because Xu Youyu had just been sent off yesterday, and today he came back by plane again.

Although he knew that, at Li Luo's current level, the cost of a plane ticket meant nothing, he still couldn't treat it like the subway, could he?

Moreover, on the way to find the car in the parking lot, Li Luo had quietly instructed him not to mention that Xu Youyu had ever been to Qiongzhou City.

This made Butler Liu even more puzzled.

¤C〇

So when he saw Ying Chanxi and Yan Zhusheng both clinging closely to Li Luo's body, Butler Liu couldn't help but begin to doubt.

Was Xu Youyu Li Luo's girlfriend, or did she have some other identity?

It couldn't possibly be that someone so young would…

As for such matters, Butler Liu wasn't unfamiliar with them.

As a butler to a wealthy person—even if only for a private villa—each time the boss came for vacation, he was always accompanied by different women.

Butler Liu was used to it, and he simply did his duty without ever speaking out of turn.

Yet even so, Li Luo still broadened his horizons.

After all, though he'd seen many such cases, most involved middle-aged bosses or young heirs from wealthy families.

But someone as young as Li Luo? He'd never seen anything like it.

Upholding his excellent butler principles, Butler Liu observed everything with his eyes, yet silently buried it deep within his heart, never intending to interfere—only to do his duty.

"So today we're just staying here at the private villa to have fun?" Ying Chanxi asked, glancing at the three-day travel itinerary Li Luo had prepared.

"Mm." Li Luo nodded. "You just arrived by plane today, so no need to rush around. Just relax here—the villa's private beach is quite nice."

"We're going diving tomorrow?" Xu Youyu exclaimed upon seeing the next day's schedule.

"Yes," Li Luo said. "Butler Liu arranged a diving club. But since none of us have ever done it before, we only signed up for snorkeling—just a simple taste."

Yan Zhusheng said nothing, but as soon as they got in the car, she leaned against Li Luo and quietly listened to their conversation.

When they arrived at the private villa, several maids were already waiting to help carry their suitcases upstairs.

Butler Liu led everyone to the fourth floor first, settling the four parents into two empty bedrooms.

The maids brought their suitcases inside, and Lin Xiuhong and Cui Suling said they wanted to unpack first.

So Butler Liu took the remaining four people up to the third floor.

Li Luo's master bedroom was on the right side of the staircase entrance.

Ying Chanxi glanced at the positions of the other three bedrooms, then immediately chose the one directly opposite the staircase entrance.

Yan Zhusheng chose the bedroom on the far right, right next to Li Luo's.

Xu Youyu didn't care which room, so after the two younger girls had chosen, she took the remaining one.

"Everyone, please rest in your rooms for now," Butler Liu said. "I'll come notify you when lunch is ready."

"Alright." Li Luo nodded, then told the three girls to go unpack in their rooms, while he returned to the master bedroom and rummaged through his suitcase for the two remaining unused swim trunks.

He was pondering which one to wear when they went to the beach in the afternoon.

But he hadn't been in the room long when the master bedroom door was pushed open.

Yan Zhusheng peeked in cautiously; seeing only Li Luo inside, she quickly slipped in and shut the door behind her.

Li Luo turned and saw Yan Zhusheng enter, and chuckled: "You're already… wait—"

Before he could finish, Yan Zhusheng rushed into his arms, burying her head against his chest, wrapping her arms tightly around him, greedily inhaling his scent.

Li Luo paused, then sighed helplessly and gently wrapped his arms around her: "It's only been a few days. Don't act like we haven't seen each other for years."

"I missed you so much," Yan Zhusheng lifted her head, staring earnestly at Li Luo.

Yan Zhusheng's directness was always so blunt, and always caught him off guard.

As a result, Li Luo had zero mental preparation—she hit him straight in the heart, striking some tender, hidden place deep inside.

"Do you want to sing?" Li Luo asked, holding her and lowering his head.

"Huh?" Yan Zhusheng blinked.

The next second, Li Luo fully bent down and sealed her lips with his own.

Yan Zhusheng's mind went blank, still not quite processing it.

In the past, she had always been the one to initiate, and only then would Li Luo kiss her.

But today, he had kissed her first.

This unexpected move made Yan Zhusheng feel strange—until, after several seconds of kissing, she gradually sank into it, gripping him tightly and eagerly returning the kiss.

Hmm… she wanted to sing, and needed emotional resonance—Li Luo was just helping her.

That's what Yan Zhusheng thought in her little head, and she pulled his neck close without hesitation, pressing her entire body against him.

Only when someone knocked on Li Luo's bedroom door did the two immediately pull apart.

"Li Luo, can I come in?"

Ying Chanxi spoke at the door, then pushed it open and glanced inside.

Seeing Yan Zhusheng inside, Ying Chanxi puffed out her cheeks and stepped right into the hallway: "Zhusheng's here too?"

"Mm." Yan Zhusheng nodded, then walked toward the bathroom. "I'm going to use the restroom."

Watching Yan Zhusheng enter and close the bathroom door, Ying Chanxi opened her mouth slightly but said nothing, instead walking straight to Li Luo's suitcase and asking: "Where's your sunscreen?"

"Here." Li Luo picked up the sunscreen he'd been using these past two days and handed it to Ying Chanxi.

"Mm, looks like you really used it." Ying Chanxi squeezed the tube, then blinked in surprise. "And you used a lot—I thought you'd just slap it on half-heartedly."

"Cough… you told me to, didn't you?" Li Luo said, sounding a bit guilty.

The main problem is that Xu Youyu is too fond of rubbing it all over—using it like that, I don't think one bottle will last more than a few applications.

Ying Chanxi didn't think much of it; though she knew Xu Youyu had been here before, she never imagined the two of them would help each other apply sunscreen.

"So remember to apply it again when we go to the beach this afternoon."

"Don't worry, I'll do exactly as you say." As he spoke, Li Luo walked over to Ying Chanxi's side and gently embraced her from behind.

Feeling Li Luo's embrace, Ying Chanxi's cheeks instantly flushed red, and she whispered, "Zhu… Zhusheng is still in the room… What are you doing?"

"It's fine, she's using the bathroom." Li Luo chuckled softly. "Don't you miss me?"

"Mmm… I don't miss you at all."

"That's really hurtful," Li Luo said, releasing her with a sigh.

Hearing this, Ying Chanxi thought he was truly upset, so she quickly turned around and leaned into his arms, her small hands gently tugging at the fabric over his chest as she whispered, "I… I do miss you a little bit."

"Just a little bit?" Li Luo pulled her closer again, smiling softly. "I miss you so much, Xixi."

Hearing those words, Ying Chanxi felt as if flowers had bloomed in her heart—her entire mood brightened instantly, and she couldn't help saying, "Actually, I miss you too~"

Feeling Li Luo's arms tighten around her, Ying Chanxi pressed herself harder into his embrace, savoring the peace and joy of this moment.

The loneliness she'd felt these past two days without Li Luo was finally eased.

They held each other for a long time.

Until Yan Zhusheng quietly opened the bathroom door and asked, expressionless: "Fifteen minutes already. Still not done?"

She hadn't hugged him this long just now.

Hearing Yan Zhusheng's voice, Ying Chanxi immediately pulled away from Li Luo, her face glowing red, adorably flustered.

But upon hearing Yan Zhusheng's words, Ying Chanxi suddenly realized—Yan Zhusheng probably hadn't meant she was actually using the bathroom…

Thinking of this, Ying Chanxi bit her lip softly and whispered, "I still need to pack my things. Call me when it's time for lunch."

Saying this, Ying Chanxi left the bedroom on her own, leaving Yan Zhusheng with a look of surprise.

But as soon as she saw Ying Chanxi truly leave the room, Yan Zhusheng's eyes darted, and she immediately flung herself into Li Luo's arms.

…

Twelve noon.

Butler Liu arrived punctually at Li Luo's door and knocked.

After receiving Li Luo's permission, Butler Liu opened the door and saw Yan Zhusheng sitting on the edge of the bed, her cheeks flushed.

He glanced once, then immediately looked away.

But that one glance was enough for him to deduce what had just happened in the bedroom.

A normal person's lips certainly wouldn't be this red.

He had to admit—after over twenty years as a butler, Mr. Li Luo had truly broadened his horizons.

"Mr. Li Luo, lunch is ready. Shall we serve it now?"

"Hmm, let's go," Li Luo nodded, then turned to Yan Zhusheng on the bed. "Go call Xixi and Sister Youyu."

"I've already sent servants to remind the other guests," Butler Liu said.

"Then let's head straight to the dining room."

As Li Luo and Yan Zhusheng stepped out of the bedroom, Xu Youyu and Ying Chanxi were just being called out by the maid.

Meanwhile, Lin Xiuhong and the other three upstairs were also coming down the stairs with the maid.

Thus, the eight of them followed Butler Liu to the first-floor dining room.

At that moment, the round dining table was already set with cutlery.

After Li Luo and the others were seated, Butler Liu clapped his hands toward the kitchen.

Soon, steaming, exquisitely prepared dishes were brought to the table.

…

The pleasant lunch ended quickly.

Li Luo leaned back in his chair and let out a burp, then said: "Let's rest a bit, then go upstairs to change into our swimsuits."