Chapter 454

In the room, Li Luo held Xu Youyu, who had rushed into his arms whimpering, patting her back and feeling the fullness against his chest; thinking of what had just happened, a smile he couldn't hide spread across his face.

But in Li Luo's eyes, there was still a faint trace of envy.

To be honest, although Li Luo loved his parents dearly, their parenting was not as good as Xu Rongsheng and Cui Suling's.

Although Cui Suling usually scolded Xu Youyu for her laziness, when it came to important matters, she knew exactly how to handle things and what to say—and what not to say.

Could Cui Suling not be angry after her daughter hid something from her for a year and a half?

Especially something as potentially disruptive to studies as secretly writing an Online Novel.

But although Cui Suling seemed angry, she and Xu Rongsheng worked in perfect sync—one playing the strict parent, the other the lenient one—so Xu Youyu understood the problem without the situation escalating.

As a father, Xu Rongsheng always maintained an open and accepting attitude, giving Xu Youyu plenty of freedom.

When it came to important matters in raising their daughter, he usually made the final call.

As for small things like waking up early, Cui Suling handled those.

When Xu Youyu truly hid writing a novel from them, Cui Suling was angry—but during her conversation with Xu Youyu just now, did she actually lose her temper?

Actually, she didn't.

Especially regarding some hidden dangers mentioned, Cui Suling was right.

In terms of family education, even Ying Chanxi and Yan Zhusheng's households had various flaws.

Although Ying Chanxi had excellent grades and Yan Zhusheng was highly talented in music, both had certain personality issues.

Li Luo himself did too.

Before his rebirth, he had various personality flaws, and once formed, they were hard to change.

Even after rebirth, with newfound confidence, some underlying traits remained, subtly influencing his decisions.

In comparison, Xu Youyu's personality was relatively healthier—she was generally optimistic and cheerful, seeming to take everything in stride.

But even she couldn't escape social death.

"The first time social death happens like this," Li Luo patted her shoulder, suppressing his laughter to comfort her, "after a few more times, you'll get used to it."

"You want me to experience it more times?" Xu Youyu lifted her head from his arms, glaring at him with wide eyes, furious: "Do you really wish me dead?"

"That's exaggerated. You'll see once you try it more," Li Luo whispered like a demon's temptation in her ear, "the more social deaths you endure, the more numb you'll become—then it won't matter who knows anymore."

"Isn't it exhausting constantly hiding and concealing?"

"Being able to openly display your work without embarrassment—that's the psychological resilience a mature Online Novel author must have!"

Xu Youyu tilted her head back, watching him speak with such righteous solemnity, and fury surged in her—she wanted to bang his head just to vent.

But Li Luo looked down at her puffed-up face and thought she was utterly adorable; he couldn't help but kiss her lips.

Xu Youyu froze, stunned by the kiss.

Perhaps Li Luo had awakened a craving—Xu Youyu suddenly wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back fiercely, even shoving him onto the bed.

"Wait… Youyu… this is your dad and mom's room…"

"They're soaking their feet—they won't be back anytime soon. Don't move."

"Didn't you just experience social death?"

"Say that again and I'll shut you up!" Xu Youyu growled—but seconds later, she whispered, "I didn't mean literally shut up—open your mouth."

…

After Li Luo's persistent "comfort," Xu Youyu finally broke free from that embarrassing mood and gradually accepted the reality.

But when Li Luo pulled her out of the room, intending to check the mahjong room, she still looked terrified, shaking her head in protest.

After all, Lin Xiuhong and Li Guohong were right there.

Just thinking that her dad and mom now knew she wrote novels made her mortified—how could she possibly face them?

But Li Luo smiled and said: "Even if you avoid them now, you'll still have to see them when you fly home tomorrow."

"Besides, my parents barely read my novels anymore—how much less would they read yours?"

"With your writing style, it's too taxing for people with their level of education—they probably only read the beginning and won't get far."

Hearing this, Xu Youyu found it easier to accept; she no longer resisted going downstairs, though her face still showed reluctance.

Li Luo had to drag her all the way from the fourth floor down to the second.

But when they reached the mahjong room door and Li Luo reached for the handle, Xu Youyu grabbed his hand and stopped him: "Wait."

She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, then slowly exhaled.

After three such breaths, she opened her eyes, turned to Li Luo, nodded solemnly at him—like a soldier marching to her death.

Li Luo couldn't help but laugh.

Li Luo reached out again and turned the doorknob.

The four people playing mahjong turned at the sound, saw Li Luo and Xu Youyu, then turned back to their game.

As if none of them knew Xu Youyu's novel-writing secret had been exposed.

But Xu Youyu knew clearly: Li Guohong and Lin Xiuhong already knew.

Still, Ying Chanxi and Yan Zhusheng were here—Lin Xiuhong and Li Guohong would give the girl some face and wouldn't bring it up.

But Xu Youyu could never have imagined: in this room of six people, she was the only civilian—the other five were all werewolves.

Three wolves had already revealed themselves; two hidden wolves still crouched in the grass, undiscovered.

"Where did you two just go?" Ying Chanxi asked curiously, drawing a tile.

"We chatted with Uncle Xu and Aunt Cui, then they went to soak their feet and get a massage—we came over to check," Li Luo said, walking to the mahjong table and pulling a chair to sit at the corner beside Ying Chanxi and Lin Xiuhong.

Xu Youyu, seeing this, pulled over a chair and sat beside Yan Zhusheng and Li Guohong.

"What did you talk about?" Yan Zhusheng tilted her head.

"About books," Li Luo said cheerfully, his gaze drifting toward Xu Youyu across the table.

He hadn't lied—but he hadn't exposed Xu Youyu either.

Sometimes telling the truth is also an art.

But his words made Lin Xiuhong beside him chuckle slightly.

Fortunately, Lin Xiuhong quickly snapped out of it and stifled her laughter.

Yet this gesture still struck Xu Youyu like a thunderbolt.

Clearly, Lin Xiuhong was fully aware of what Cui Suling had just called her over to confront.

Realizing this, Xu Youyu felt like sitting on pins and needles, utterly miserable, her peripheral vision flicking toward Li Shuji beside her.

Though Li Guohong's expression was calm, for some reason, Xu Youyu always felt a faint, almost imperceptible smile lingered at Li Shuji's lips.

Facing the occasional glances from Uncle and Aunt, even though Xu Youyu had mentally prepared herself before entering, she still found the time unbearably long.

So she winked at Li Luo, signaling him to find a reason to rescue her soon.

Li Luo found it amusing; he peeled an orange for his mother and squeezed a few grapes into Ying Chanxi's hand.

Then he finally stood up, fed Yan Zhusheng a few pieces of watermelon, and patted Xu Youyu on the shoulder: "Sister Youyu, let them keep playing. Let's go play some pool."

"Alright!" Xu Youyu instantly jumped up, even faster than Li Luo, and hurried toward the door.

Li Luo followed behind, stifling his laughter; once they stepped out of the mahjong room, he saw Xu Youyu take a long, deep breath in the hallway, as if she'd just survived an epic battle.

"Was it really that bad?" Li Luo closed the mahjong room door and couldn't help asking.

"What do you know?" Xu Youyu shot him an annoyed glare.

"How don't I know? I'm a veteran." Li Luo walked beside her, patted her shoulder reassuringly, "You're only experiencing the early symptoms of social death. By the late stage, it gets much easier."

"What do you mean?"

"Your heart is already dead, your body numb—you face social death like a walking corpse, as if the embarrassment isn't even yours." Li Luo spoke with cryptic depth, "By the final stage, such situations feel like a gentle spring breeze—unfazed, utterly calm."

"Sister Youyu, you're still green."

"Once you reach my stage, you won't fear social death anymore—you'll even enjoy it."

"Enjoy it? Pfft!" Xu Youyu rolled her eyes. "You're kind of twisted."

"Since this is unavoidable anyway, why not face it properly?" Li Luo urged earnestly.

"You're overthinking it—only my parents and your parents know right now." Xu Youyu waved her hand. "When I thought about it, they're all family. Except my dad, none of them would actually read my books, so it's not that bad."

"As long as my writing doesn't actually reach my schoolmates, I think I can barely accept it."

"Otherwise, where would I put my face as a former student union president?"

"My advice? Say less." Li Luo, the veteran, glanced at her and warned, "I thought the same way before—but the more you think that, the faster you get exposed. Sister Youyu, think carefully."

"What are you talking about? Don't jinx me!" Xu Youyu instantly slapped her hand over Li Luo's mouth, glaring fiercely. "Swallow all that bad luck right out of your mouth!"

The two made a racket in the second-floor living room, chatting idly as they picked up cue sticks and started playing pool.

The third night passed quickly like this.

……

By the morning of February 4th.

Li Luo woke up, moved his own soft white arms aside, shifted the long legs resting on his own, and slowly sat upright in bed.

To his left was Yan Zhusheng; to his right were Ying Chanxi and Xu Youyu. Li Luo yawned, stretched, patted all three of their faces, and said: "Wake up. Get ready. We're flying home this morning."

Yan Zhusheng and Ying Chanxi were obedient—they got out of bed and went to the bathroom to wash up.

Xu Youyu, however, clung to Li Luo and kept sleeping.

Only after Li Luo took a damp towel from Yan Zhusheng's hand and wiped Xu Youyu's face did she reluctantly climb out of bed, grumbling.

After eating their final meal at the private villa in the morning, Li Luo and the others dragged their luggage out the front gate and loaded it into the minibus.

Butler Liu drove the minibus, taking them all the way to the airport, stopping at the entrance, and personally helping them unload their bags.

"Butler Liu, thank you for all your hard work," Li Luo shook his hand and said gratefully. "We had a wonderful time."

"As long as you're satisfied, that's all I need," Butler Liu smiled. "I'll see you here. Travel safely, take care."

After saying goodbye to Butler Liu at the airport entrance, the eight of them dragged their luggage inside, retrieved their boarding passes, and passed through security.

They boarded the plane.

This time, for once, Li Luo didn't have lovely girls on either side—he sat between his parents.

Lin Xiuhong sat by the window; Li Guohong sat by the aisle; Li Luo was sandwiched in between.

"How's flying?" Li Luo asked his mother.

"What's it gonna be? It's just flying," Lin Xiuhong, having flown twice now, wasn't some country bumpkin anymore—she tried to keep her face calm. "You've only flown twice too. Why're you asking me?"

"Elders adapt slower to new things. I'm just showing concern."

"Who's an elder? Can't even speak properly." Lin Xiuhong gave him a look. "Why don't you switch seats with Chanxi? She's much more considerate than you."

"Mom, that's kinda hurtful."

"I'm just telling the truth."

As the mother and son bickered, the plane rolled onto the runway, rumbled forward, and soon lifted into the sky.

Lin Xiuhong leaned to the window, watching the airport shrink away, replaced by an endless sea—she couldn't help sighing in wonder.

Watching his mother's wide-eyed curiosity at the window, Li Luo smiled warmly.

This, perhaps, was the meaning of traveling with family.

"Mom."

"What?"

"Next summer vacation, let's plan another trip somewhere?"

"Really?"

"Of course." Li Luo nodded. "Somewhere far from Yuhang."

"Alright. Then ask Zhi Cheng and Wan Qing—invite them too."

【Fallen Journal】: Today's single chapter—exhausted.