Chapter 503: What the Hell Is This Rich Man

Looking at the birthday gift before him, Xu Youyu was completely numb.

Ying Chanxi hid behind Li Luo and snickered; Yan Zhusheng, whose face had been expressionless moments ago, could no longer keep it up—seeing Xu Youyu's expression, her lips curled slightly upward.

Cui Suling leaned over curiously from the side, only then clearly seeing the words on it, and was startled to find it was Literary Era.

For a moment, she couldn't process it, instinctively assuming Xu Youyu had long known Ying Chanxi and Yan Zhusheng were aware she wrote novels, which was why she'd prepared such a gift.

Thinking this, Cui Suling picked up the top volume out of curiosity and glanced at the ones beneath.

She discovered the stack beneath was entirely Literary Era, volumes 1 through 12, totaling a full 2.5 million characters.

At this moment, Lin Xiuhong beside them finally realized what was happening, and stared in surprise at Ying Chanxi and Yan Zhusheng: "When did you two find out?"

Hearing this, it was now Ying Chanxi and Yan Zhusheng who were stunned.

"You knew too, Lin Yi?" Ying Chanxi, unaware of Xu Youyu's earlier social death, had assumed only Li Luo and Xu's parents knew—she now looked slightly astonished.

Yan Zhusheng replied quietly from beside her: "We found out last year."

Those words struck like a blade straight into Xu Youyu's heart, making her breath catch and her face freeze as she stared at Ying Chanxi and Yan Zhusheng.

Li Luo, seeing the two suddenly confess, also lost his composure—he suddenly recalled many things and asked instinctively: "So what about the annual meeting…?"

"We knew long ago," Ying Chanxi muttered softly. "It was just that Senior first went, then flew back specially, then flew with us to join her."

Xu Youyu's breath halted again; her face filled with despair as she looked at the two girls, lips trembling as she whispered a plea: "Don't… don't say any more…"

She'd just finished the college entrance exam, and it was also her birthday… why… shouldn't these two things together have made her feel utterly joyful?

But all her earlier joy had been shattered into pieces before this gift, leaving Xu Youyu desperate to dig a hole and crawl into it.

She'd thought passing the college entrance exam meant she'd hidden her achievements well enough—any future exposure wouldn't matter anymore.

She could even find a chance to confess openly, if she wanted.

After all, if Li Luo was right and she might land a Grand Void Group's Grand Master contract this year or next, she definitely couldn't hide it from Ying Chanxi and Yan Zhusheng.

It'd be better to just admit it openly.

But right now, with zero psychological preparation, Xu Youyu truly couldn't hold it together.

"I really like Senior's books," Yan Zhusheng walked over to Xu Youyu and said seriously, "I read them several times."

Xu Youyu: "..."

You might as well not say that!

The thought of Yan Zhusheng having read her writing multiple times made Xu Youyu's cheeks burn red.

On the other side, Ying Chanxi didn't drive the knife deeper—she simply walked over to Xu Youyu and shared: "Your book doesn't have a physical edition yet."

"So I and Zhusheng specifically found a print shop to make this—the cover was designed by us too."

"We also included elements from some movies mentioned in the novel, and scenes we thought were interesting, all reflected on these covers."

Hearing this, Xu Youyu's earlier social-death emotions eased slightly.

Her attention was drawn to the physical volume before her; after careful observation, she indeed noticed the cover's clever details.

Though still a little awkward, knowing this was a gift specially designed for her by Ying Chanxi and Yan Zhusheng, Xu Youyu felt touched.

After all, she'd endured multiple social deaths—she took a deep breath, pushed the embarrassment from her mind, thought it over, and realized it wasn't so bad.

As Li Luo said, social death becomes routine after you've experienced it enough.

Especially today was her birthday, and Ying Chanxi and Yan Zhusheng had no intention of interrogating her—this was simply a birthday gift, a little playful prank, meant to finally bring the matter out into the open.

So she wouldn't have to keep hiding it anymore.

Thus, Xu Youyu finally calmed herself, whispered a quiet "thank you," picked up the entire set of twelve Literary Era volumes, and placed them temporarily on the table.

"By the way, you won't be preparing this for me too, right?" Li Luo glanced again at the physical set and muttered under his breath.

Ying Chanxi rolled her eyes at him: "You haven't even finished yet, and you're already aiming for five million characters—if you make a physical edition, it'll be twice as thick as Senior's!"

"I feel like when you hit five million, you'll only be halfway through the plot," Yan Zhusheng added beside him, then whispered quietly near Li Luo's ear: "You still haven't slept with the heroine—Senior's way ahead of you."

Li Luo: "..."

With elders present, Li Luo dared not respond to Yan Zhusheng's remark.

But what she said was true.

Knowing the online novel market's tightening censorship trends in the coming years, Li Luo avoided advancing this aspect to reduce future revision risks and extend the book's lifespan.

For many readers, once the heroine is physically conquered, her appeal drops a notch instantly.

You can't blame the readers.

It's simply how the pleasure threshold works—it's unavoidable human nature.

Readers complain about why the heroine hasn't been taken yet, saying if it drags on any longer, they'll quit reading.

But actually, once the heroine is taken, that's when they'll quit.

Because the pleasure point has been satisfied—it's like entering the sage phase.

Instead, by never pushing the heroine, readers may curse loudly, but they keep reading for real.

It's like a guy searching online for short porn clips—he focuses intensely, eager to sample every one he finds interesting.

But once he's satisfied, his interest vanishes instantly.

Though not absolute for individuals, online novel readers form a vast, macroscopic group.

To make money, authors must aim for the broadest common denominator.

Of course, this also relates to Li Luo having little literary ambition.

Like Xu Youyu, when writing online novels, she still carried some literary aspirations, embedding her personal philosophies and ideas into her work.

For example, when Literary Era ended, Li Luo specifically extracted certain lines from the final chapter—all were Xu Youyu's private expressions about film or entertainment content.

In comparison, Li Luo was far simpler.

He had no great literary ambitions—writing online novels had only two reasons.

One: to make money. Two: to have fun.

In short, he wasn't that artsy.

Whatever most readers found satisfying, he also found satisfying, so writing it felt natural to him.

Some authors write power-fantasy plots readers love, but those very plots contradict their own literary expression; they end up subconsciously slipping in artsy bits, making readers uncomfortable—and getting themselves scolded.

That's truly miserable.

"So, when do you plan to finish this book?" Ying Chanxi asked curiously. "Will you wait until next year's college entrance exam to wrap it up?"

"Not for a long while," Li Luo said, smiling as he watched Xu Youyu slice the cake. "As long as I can keep writing, I see no reason to stop."

He wasn't that stubborn.

Even if it took real effort and daily time, he could slowly recreate some future-hit Online Novels.

But right now? There's no need.

He was perfectly content with his current income and lifestyle, only wanting to live his own little life in peace and comfort.

Thanks to the subscription success of I Am Really Not a Star and the copyright earnings of Little Joy, his Platinum contract this year is already a done deal.

Li Luo planned to wait and see how I Am Really Not a Star progressed before deciding anything—he had less than five million words written, so there was no rush.

"Time for cake," Xu Youyu said, interrupting their conversation after slicing it.

After cutting cake for all eight people, a little remained; Xu Youyu quietly dipped her finger in it, swiped twice, and smeared it on Ying Chanxi and Yan Zhusheng's faces, determined to reclaim her dignity from earlier.

The four parents chuckled beside them, eating cake and watching the kids play.

After eating, they had no intention of intruding further on Xu Youyu's group's plans; they filled their stomachs and took their leave.

"Don't stay up too late," Cui Suling reminded as she left. "It's only just past seven—by ten or eleven, you should be sleeping. Li Luo and the others have evening self-study tomorrow, right?"

"Got it~" Xu Youyu pushed her mother's shoulder toward the door, waving at Li Guohong and his wife by the elevator. "Bye, Uncle and Auntie~"

"Bye-bye," Lin Xiuhong waved cheerfully. "Have fun, we're off."

After seeing off the four parents, Xu Youyu closed the door, stood at the entrance, turned her back to the living room, and suddenly fell silent, motionless.

Ying Chanxi, still clearing the table, found it odd and stepped forward to tap Xu Youyu's shoulder. "What's wrong, Senior?"

"Nothing," Xu Youyu turned, beaming at Ying Chanxi, then glanced at Yan Zhusheng, clapped her hands with a smile. "Now it's just the four of us—time for a fun birthday game~"

Hearing this, Li Luo immediately stepped back half a pace, wary.

Ying Chanxi's expression stiffened, recalling last year's birthday games Xu Youyu had recommended—both for herself and for Li Luo—had all been a bit inappropriate.

Yan Zhusheng's eyes lit up, eager and expectant. "Senior, what are we playing?"

"Wait!"

Xu Youyu snapped her fingers, shaking off her earlier social embarrassment, marching proudly toward her bedroom.

Passing the table, she patted her physical book set and ordered Li Luo: "Bring my books to my room!"

"Coming," Li Luo walked over, picked up the twelve physical volumes, followed her into the bedroom, and warned: "Don't pull out anything weird."

"What's weird? Just Monopoly~" Xu Youyu chuckled, rummaged in her drawer, and indeed pulled out a Monopoly box.

Li Luo placed the books on the desk, glanced curiously—and confirmed the box was indeed ordinary Monopoly.

Still, he didn't lower his guard. "Did you modify it?"

"Mmm~"

Xu Youyu neither confirmed nor denied, grinning as she pulled Li Luo out of the bedroom, sat him down in the living room, and clapped to signal Ying Chanxi and Yan Zhusheng to join.

She swept the coffee table clear, then slapped the Monopoly box down with a *pam! *—eager and ready to play.

Yan Zhusheng leaned in, slightly disappointed. "Looks kind of plain."

Ying Chanxi sighed in relief—until she heard Xu Youyu's next words, and her heart tightened again.

"Don't worry—I've already modified it," Xu Youyu grinned mischievously, then solemnly opened the box and pulled out tonight's game.

"What's this?" Li Luo reached for the most eye-catching A4 sheet—it looked like a Monopoly map—and spread it on the coffee table.

Under the bright living room light, the other three clearly saw the map's contents.

Then all three froze.

Because this was nothing like any Monopoly they'd ever seen.

In Li Luo's memory, normal Monopoly maps featured global landmarks—places like London, New York.

Even last year's modified version by Xu Youyu used Fuyi High School elements: the rooftop, the principal's office, the playground, the flagpole.

At the very least, last year's Xu Youyu-modified version of Monopoly was also based on Fu Yi Middle School, featuring elements like the school rooftop, the principal's office, the playground, and the flagpole.

But...

"What the hell is 'Hallway Bathroom'?!" Li Luo pointed at the first landmark he saw, unable to hold back.

"It's the hallway bathroom," Xu Youyu blinked innocently, then pointed elsewhere. "And there's the master bedroom bathroom too."

Li Luo: "…"

"And the piano room," Yan Zhusheng pointed to the top of the map, curious. "So we're supposed to buy these rooms?"

"Of course not," Xu Youyu tilted her chin, raised one finger, and shook it with a smile. "The rules have changed a lot—listen carefully."

Hearing this, Li Luo couldn't help but twitch his lips, then pulled another card from the box—a 【Event Card】.

He flipped it open—and read:

【Event Card】: You failed an exam, feeling down. You need someone to comfort and hug you. (Unlimited)

He flipped two more.

【Event Card】: You're bored at home. You decide to play the piano to pass the time. (Piano Room only)

【Event Card】: You go to the bathroom, but the toilet paper runs out. You urgently need someone to help. (Bathroom only)

And besides these 【Event Cards】, there were also 【Character Cards】, 【Skill Cards】, and 【Scene Cards】.

Li Luo stared at them, speechless.

Xu Youyu, clearly having prepared for this for a long time, was now bursting with excitement and hurried to explain the rules.

"The rules of the game are like this~"