Chapter 471: Xu Youyu Feels Something

The next day, after lunch.

Li Luo stopped Li Guohong, who was about to head to the hot pot restaurant, and mentioned going to the airport to pick someone up.

"Zhusheng is coming back? Alone?" Li Guohong froze upon hearing that Yan Zhusheng was flying back by herself. "What about her mom?"

"Aunt Yuan has an event in Yanjing City; she's not on the same flight as Zhusheng."

"Then you really should go pick her up," Li Guohong nodded. "Cross-border flights—this little girl traveling alone? She's got guts."

As for this point… hmm… Li Luo had a slight suspicion.

It was very likely Yan Zhusheng had suggested it herself.

After all, that way, she could openly have Li Luo come pick her up, and she'd see him the moment she landed.

This girl sometimes went to extreme lengths just to see him.

But such extreme lengths directed at him still left Li Luo quite pleased.

Too bad he couldn't drive yet; otherwise, he'd have just taken Li Guohong's car and gone to the airport himself.

After telling Ying Chanxi and the others, Li Luo stayed in the living room to continue with the study group after lunch.

Li Guohong went to the hot pot restaurant first, then returned around two o'clock to pick up Li Luo and drive to Yuhang City Airport.

"Say, after your birthday this December, you'll be eighteen, right?" Li Guohong asked Li Luo from behind the wheel as they entered the highway.

"Yeah, so what?"

"Then during winter break, you should find time to get your driver's license," Li Guohong chuckled. "Next time you need to pick someone up, just use my car."

"That's exactly what I was thinking," Li Luo grinned, genuinely looking forward to it.

In his past life, he'd already learned to drive and knew how to operate a car; getting a license was easy for him.

After all, he had the Memory Palace.

But in his past life, he'd never bought a car himself—only driven Li Guohong's during the New Year holidays.

Later, after meeting Xu Youyu, when they went out together, Li Luo sometimes drove Xu Youyu's car.

Especially since Xu Youyu always loved drinking; after Li Luo came into his life, Xu Youyu became even more reckless, insisting on having a little wine every time they ate out, so Li Luo always did the driving.

Too bad Li Luo didn't earn enough from writing books before the Short Drama scam wiped him out.

Since then, he'd had no chance to buy a car—he'd been stuck paying off debts.

Now, of course, things were completely different; once he turned eighteen this year, he could immediately take the driving test.

Moreover, Li Luo didn't even plan to wait for winter break—he'd sign up early and take the test on weekends.

By winter break, he'd already be able to drive.

A car worth a few hundred thousand would be more than enough for Li Luo.

He had no interest in luxury cars; he'd be attending Qianjiang University soon, so it was better to avoid flashy vehicles and stay low-key.

"Dad, when we get there, park in the lot and wait in the car," Li Luo said, watching the scenery blur past the window. "I'll go inside alone to pick her up."

Li Guohong glanced at his son and instantly guessed the boy's hidden motive.

He nodded silently, pretending to agree.

But once they reached the airport parking lot and Li Luo got out and walked away, Li Guohong, driven by curiosity, quietly followed him into the terminal, heading straight to the arrivals exit.

From afar, he confirmed Li Luo's figure waiting there, then stopped, keeping his distance.

He hadn't originally planned to follow, but he was too curious about how close this boy really was to the three girls at home—he couldn't resist sneaking a peek.

This brat had him drive just to pick someone up, then wouldn't let him come inside—there had to be something going on.

Would they hug when they met?

Maybe even hold hands walking?

Li Guohong thought this, planning to watch briefly and slip away without making a sound.

As time passed, it soon reached three in the afternoon.

Li Luo stood at the arrivals exit, pulled out his phone, and saw a message from Yan Zhusheng—she'd regained communication after landing.

Li Guohong watched from afar, waiting patiently.

About twenty minutes later, the plane finished taxiing; Yan Zhusheng stepped off, walked through the terminal, collected her suitcase, and finally emerged from the exit.

Yan Zhusheng was tall; even in her down jacket, she didn't look bulky.

Her exquisite face stood out sharply—even from far away, Li Guohong could spot her instantly among the crowd.

Not to mention Li Luo—he locked onto her figure almost instantly.

Yan Zhusheng clearly spotted Li Luo at once, quickened her pace, dragged her suitcase around the barrier, and before she was even five meters away, she let go of the handle and ran into Li Luo's arms.

Oh my…

Li Guohong, seeing this, couldn't help but cluck his tongue.

Though he'd already seen Li Luo sharing a bed with the three girls during their trip to Qiongzhou City, he'd expected something like this.

But when he actually witnessed it, he still sighed.

This brat…

Li Guohong had previously harbored doubts—perhaps the kids were just close friends who slept together, with no deeper feelings.

But now… watching the pair in the distance, embracing like lovers reunited after a long separation, he already had his answer.

If he was this close with Zhusheng, what about Xixi, who'd grown up with him since childhood?

But at least they were only hugging.

Li Guohong thought this, decided he'd seen enough, turned around, and left without disturbing them.

But Li Guohong could never have guessed that shortly after he left, Yan Zhusheng, still buried in Li Luo's arms, finally recharged—she rose on her toes and kissed his lips.

Ignoring the onlookers, they kissed for a while before reluctantly parting.

"Dad's still waiting—let's head to the car," Li Luo pinched Yan Zhusheng's cheek. "Don't make him wait too long."

"Oh." Yan Zhusheng stared at Li Luo's mouth, her expression seeming almost eager.

But in the end, she pressed her lips together, nodded obediently, slipped her hand into Li Luo's palm, then remembered her suitcase was still behind.

Li Luo smiled, pulled her along, picked up the suitcase, and the two of them moved through the airport, soon returning to the parking lot and finding Li Guohong's car.

Opening the back seat and getting in, Yan Zhusheng greeted Li Guohong politely: "Good afternoon, Uncle."

"Mm." Li Guohong nodded in response. Seeing Yan Zhusheng, he recalled the image of her rushing into his son's arms just moments ago, a strange feeling stirring inside him, making his expression oddly twisted.

Fortunately, Li Luo also sat in the back seat instead of the front passenger seat, so no one noticed Li Guohong's peculiar expression.

"Didn't bring too much, right?" Li Guohong asked. "If not, let's go."

"All set." Li Luo had just placed Yan Zhusheng's suitcase in the trunk and now closed the car door, nodding. "Let's head home."

Li Guohong started the car and drove toward Bihai Lanting.

In the back seat, since the air conditioning was on, Yan Zhusheng took off her down jacket and placed it between herself and Li Luo.

Then, her small hand quietly slipped beneath the jacket and reached out to grasp Li Luo's hand.

Previously, Li Guohong didn't know their relationship, so he wouldn't think much of it.

But now that he had some idea, seeing the down jacket placed between them in the rearview mirror, noticing the odd angle of their arms, and observing the jacket occasionally shifting, Li Guohong knew exactly what was happening.

Still, he could only pretend not to see it.

Yan Zhusheng and Li Luo thought they were hiding it well, playing beneath the jacket with great delight, their ten fingers entwined tightly.

They had no idea Li Guohong already knew—and had seen everything.

…

After driving the two home, Li Guohong couldn't be bothered to go back to the hot pot restaurant, and simply stayed in the living room scrolling on his phone.

After bringing Yan Zhusheng home, Li Luo rejoined the study group's sessions.

Xu Yinghuan happily followed Yan Zhusheng into the bedroom, helping her unpack while eagerly gathering new "sugar-craving" gossip, deeply curious about what had happened during the winter break.

After nearly half an hour of packing, the two emerged from the bedroom.

Seeing Xu Yinghuan's satisfied expression, it was clear she'd learned plenty of secret details.

With the day ending, when the morning of February 28 arrived, Li Luo and the others entered the second semester of Gao Er.

In contrast, Xu Youyu entered her final stretch of high school.

"I don't know why, but since school started, I feel like my classmates keep sneaking glances at me."

A few days after school resumed, Xu Youyu couldn't help saying this while eating late-night snacks at home.

"You're so pretty—of course people sneak glances at you," Li Luo took a bite of fragrant fried rice and drank some soda. "You're overthinking."

"Before, only boys used to sneak looks at me, but lately even girls are doing it," Xu Youyu rubbed her chin, feeling something was off.

"Maybe it's because graduation's near, and everyone's reluctant to lose their class monitor."

"That's a bit too sentimental," Xu Youyu waved her hand. "There's definitely something else going on."

"Could it be that your classmates found out…" Li Luo stopped mid-sentence, realizing Ying Chanxi and Yan Zhusheng didn't know about this yet, and immediately fell silent.

But Xu Youyu understood instantly, glared at him sharply, giving him a fierce look that said: "Don't you dare say anything in front of Zhusheng and Xixi."

Yet Ying Chanxi and Yan Zhusheng also understood—but pretended they didn't.

Yan Zhusheng, even more curious, asked: "Found out what?"

"Cough… nothing…" Xu Youyu's gaze darted around, clearly nervous. She quickly made up an excuse: "Maybe they found out I'm sharing an apartment with you guys."

"Didn't your schoolmates already know about that?" Ying Chanxi asked, puzzled.

"Ah, well, that's only spread widely in your grade—fewer people in Gao San know," Xu Youyu said, immediately changing the subject. "By the way, isn't your birthday coming up soon, Xixi?"

"Mm-hmm." Ying Chanxi didn't press Xu Youyu further, forcing back a smile as she nodded. "It's on the 14th, but that's a Monday."

"Then let's celebrate early on the 12th?" Xu Youyu raised an eyebrow, grinning mischievously. "My special Monopoly has been fully updated! And there's a super-luxury version made just for the four of us! Want to try it out, Xixi?"

"Th-this isn't necessary…" Ying Chanxi, seeing Xu Youyu's mischievous grin, felt a bad premonition and shook her head quickly. "Let's just have dinner and play cards on my birthday."

Then on the 13th, she'd take Li Luo out on a date alone~

Ying Chanxi planned this in her mind, uninterested in Xu Youyu's special Monopoly.

After all, recalling the last time they played Monopoly, she always ended up losing—better to avoid such games.

"Sigh… what a pity," Xu Youyu sighed, shaking her head. "Guess I'll have to wait until my birthday."

"Isn't your birthday the day of the Gaokao?" Li Luo said. "June 8th, right?"

"Exactly," Xu Youyu nodded. "But I'll be done by evening—we can have dinner together, celebrate both my birthday and the Gaokao's end, then it's Monopoly time!"

"You don't have to be so obsessed with Monopoly…"

"How about Flight Chess?" Xu Youyu tilted her head.

"You've got nothing else up your sleeve, huh?" Li Luo groaned, black lines forming on his forehead. He recalled the last time they played Flight Chess and instinctively bowed respectfully under the table.

Come to think of it, since last year's birthday, he hadn't seen Ying Chanxi or the other two wearing silk stockings again.

He missed it.

"What are you thinking about?" Xu Youyu spotted his strange expression at once, and her foot moved—then she smirked slyly. "Hehe~"

Li Luo, annoyed, slapped away the mischievous foot under the table, took a long breath, and finally relaxed slightly.

But Yan Zhusheng, sitting next door, also sensed something odd and immediately extended her foot over—making Li Luo stiffen again.

"Why are you quiet?" Ying Chanxi looked at Li Luo in confusion, still unaware of what was happening.

"Nothing," Li Luo shook his head. "I was just thinking—on Saturday, we'll all get together for your birthday, and on Sunday, I'll take you out somewhere."

"No rush," Ying Chanxi smiled happily, seeing Li Luo bring it up first. "We can decide when the time comes~"