Chapter 525: Li Luo, Hot

In the living room dining area of Bihai Lanting 1502, Xu Youyu ate dinner while unusually showing consideration toward her mother.

"Mom, do you have plans tonight?"

"I'm meeting Lin Yi to play mahjong. Why?" Cui Suling looked at her daughter with confusion, a skeptical expression forming, "What are you up to?"

"Nothing, hehe…" Xu Youyu chuckled twice, then turned to Lin Xiuhong on the other side, "Lin Yi, I bought a new car."

"What kind of car?" Lin Xiuhong asked with interest. "A BMW X3, really easy to drive, comfortable handling, and very pretty—I had it customized in red."

"Where did you park it? I'll go take a look when we go downstairs." Lin Xiuhong smiled.

"Just left out the gate, second parking spot—it's obvious. All the other cars around are black or white, only mine is red." Xu Youyu puffed out her chest proudly.

Yan Zhusheng glanced at Xu Youyu's chest, deliberately picked up two pieces of papaya from the shrimp and papaya dish that she didn't like, shoved them into her mouth, chewed a few times, frowned, but still forced herself to swallow.

"You know only your car is red? Too flashy." Cui Suling frowned, then warned, "You bought the car, fine, but after school starts, don't drive it onto campus, understood?"

"Why not?" Xu Youyu immediately protested, "I was planning to make a grand entrance on the first day of school."

"Grand entrance?!" Cui Suling snapped, "When the roads are jammed, you gonna sit there breathing exhaust fumes? You're thinking of driving for such a short distance?"

"Then I'll drive it after school starts—why else did I buy the car?"

"Have you thought about who your father is?" Cui Suling tapped Xu Youyu's bowl twice with her chopsticks, "A professor's daughter driving a red luxury car in and out of campus—what kind of impression does that make?!"

"Forty-something thousand isn't even a luxury car…" Xu Youyu muttered under her breath.

"Forty-something thousand isn't luxury, but it's still a fortune for a college student!" Cui Suling raised her voice, "Either boldly announce you're the author of the Literary Era and how much you've earned, and take the consequences yourself!"

At these words, Xu Youyu's expression changed instantly, and she fell silent.

Although she had already been socially dead among her high school classmates, she had now graduated.

The Xu Youyu who died in high school could be reborn on the university campus!

Xu Youyu didn't want to die again the moment she stepped into university!

Although about a hundred students from Fuyi High School scored above Qianjiang University's cutoff, considering top students had better options and lower-ranked ones might choose other schools due to major preferences,

this year's Gao San class from Fuyi High would likely send only sixty or seventy students to Qianjiang University.

Spread across various colleges and majors, the number who'd actually be in the same literature department as Xu Youyu would be few and far between.

If she kept a low profile and acted modestly, she probably wouldn't be exposed too quickly.

Compared to not being allowed to drive to campus, her own life mattered more.

The stakes were clear—Xu Youyu was someone who knew when to let go, so she dropped the idea of driving to school for show.

But after dinner,

to satisfy her vanity with a small display, Xu Youyu specifically went downstairs to escort Cui Suling and Lin Xiuhong to the mahjong parlor.

Driving her mother and Lin Yi out of the Bihai Lanting compound gate, Xu Youyu opened her brand-new car's window, let the wind blow in, and felt delighted.

Then she heard Cui Suling in the backseat complain, "Aren't you supposed to have an SUV? Why is the backseat so cramped? Nothing like your Uncle Li's car."

"Aren't you grateful I'm driving you?" Xu Youyu rolled her eyes, "Could it be that Mom's gained weight lately?"

"Don't talk nonsense!" Cui Suling glared at her through the rearview mirror.

"The BMW X3 is just like this—earlier you wouldn't sit in the front passenger seat." Xu Youyu huffed, then added, considering Lin Xiuhong was also in the back, "The driving experience is better, but the rear seats are indeed smaller than other SUVs."

"Then why didn't you think more before buying? You went to look at one car and ordered it the same day." Cui Suling complained.

"Come on, I hardly ever use the backseat anyway." Xu Youyu waved her hand, "If you're so unhappy, I won't drive you next time, okay?"

"Fine, don't drive me." Cui Suling nodded cheerfully, then added, "But when you're at school, this car just sits there—let me use it. I need a daily driver."

Xu Youyu gasped: "What?! Why?!"

"You spent forty thousand—shouldn't it be worth something?" Cui Suling said, "When you need it, just tell me, I'll give it back."

"I'd rather let Lin Yi drive it than you." Xu Youyu pouted.

Her car had just arrived, and her own mother was already eyeing it—how could she not panic?

But Cui Suling chuckled, "Fine. Anyway, Lin Yi and I always go together, and she doesn't have a car either."

"I can't." Lin Xiuhong laughed, shaking her head as the mother-daughter argument turned toward her, "I haven't driven in years—only when my husband Li had a drink on New Year's did I ever get behind the wheel."

"No problem." Cui Suling waved her hand, winking at Lin Xiuhong, "Didn't Wanqing recommend a beauty salon downtown? We could drive there together."

"Sounds good." Lin Xiuhong covered her mouth and smiled knowingly, nodding in agreement with her best friend, "Then thank you, Youyu, for the use of your car."

Hearing Lin Xiuhong say that, Xu Youyu's face froze.

If Cui Suling wanted to take her car, Xu Youyu could throw a tantrum, roll on the floor—Cui Suling couldn't force her.

But with Lin Xiuhong asking, Xu Youyu couldn't refuse.

Her fingers caressed the steering wheel of her brand-new car. Filled with reluctance, she finally clenched her teeth and whispered, "Then… then Lin Yi, be careful when you drive—don't scratch it. That wrap cost a fortune."

Lin Xiuhong nodded with a smile; Cui Suling chuckled coldly, thinking: even a flower in the house is less fragrant than a wild one—her own mother couldn't compete with her mother-in-law.

Although the two families weren't even related yet, Cui Suling still thought it in her heart.

Once she finally dropped off these two revered figures at the mahjong parlor's entrance and watched Cui Suling and Lin Xiuhong walk inside, Xu Youyu exhaled deeply and hurriedly drove home.

On the way back, however, she deliberately took a longer route, hoping to spend more time with her beloved car.

…

Meanwhile, elsewhere.

After dinner, Ying Chanxi and Yan Zhusheng began clearing the dishes.

Li Luo, with nothing else to do, helped tidy up.

While washing dishes in the kitchen, Ying Chanxi turned to Yan Zhusheng and suddenly asked, "Zhusheng."

"Hmm?"

"Tomorrow's your birthday, right?"

"Yes." Yan Zhusheng nodded.

"Any plans?" Ying Chanxi asked, "Something like Monopoly, or…?"

"I've made plans with Li Luo," Yan Zhusheng blinked her eyes. "Tomorrow we're going out alone, but I'll still come back for dinner."

"Th-this… I see…" Ying Chanxi, hearing this birthday arrangement, immediately pressed her lips together. She recalled how, on her own birthday this year, Li Luo had taken her out for a whole day alone.

Making crafts, soaking in a bathhouse, eating Western food, receiving flowers from Li Luo…

"Have you decided where to go?" Ying Chanxi asked casually, feigning indifference.

"We're making crafts," Yan Zhusheng said seriously. "I just need a new cup."

Ying Chanxi: "... Then how are you drinking water now?"

"That cup isn't very good to use. It's time for a new one," Yan Zhusheng said solemnly.

"Besides making crafts… what else?"

"And… I don't know yet." Yan Zhusheng turned her head, planning to ask Li Luo, who had just helped out a moment ago.

But when she turned around, she realized Li Luo had vanished without her noticing.

By the time Xu Youyu drove home, the dishes in the kitchen had already been washed.

The three girls took showers in order.

No error in any single word or line!

Xu Youyu finished first and immediately slipped into her bedroom, quickly immersing herself in preparing her new book.

The happiest time writing an Online Novel is before it's published.

For an author, the stage of gathering inspiration and preparing an outline is the most enjoyable, the most mentally exhilarating.

Countless ideas, countless scenes, climaxes to describe, the spiritual core to pursue, a character's shining moment—or even just a single line meant for a specific scene.

Just thinking about these things in your mind makes you feel thrilled, your blood boiling, desperate to write hundreds of thousands of words right then and there.

Xu Youyu was now in exactly this stage—whenever she had a free moment, her mind kept returning to these thoughts.

Only when she hit a wall, when her ideas stalled, did Xu Youyu go to Li Luo for help.

After Xu Youyu finished her shower, Yan Zhusheng also showered, washing her hair for the first time in nearly a week.

With hair down to her waist, washing it was a hassle; the shampoo she used alone was seven or eight times the amount Li Luo normally used, just to fully saturate her hair with foam.

After her shower, Yan Zhusheng wrapped her long hair in a Mao Jin, tying it into a large bun at the back of her head, then handed over the bathroom to Ying Chanxi, and walked to Li Luo's bedroom to ask Tony Li to blow-dry her hair.

"After morning run tomorrow, I'll take you to make crafts," Li Luo said, drying her hair while checking tomorrow's schedule with Yan Zhusheng. "By the way, will you be coming home for dinner?"

"Yes, Mom is coming too," Yan Zhusheng nodded at Li Luo. "She said she's free, so she wants to celebrate my birthday."

"That's rare," Li Luo smiled. "Does Yuan Auntie have no work tomorrow?"

"Starting from mid-August, she seems to have turned down most commercial performances and variety show invitations," Yan Zhusheng recalled, blinking. "Supposedly to prepare for the upcoming concerts over the next few months."

"Oh right," Li Luo remembered. "The first concert is October 2nd, in Jingzhao City."

"Mm." Yan Zhusheng nodded. "Mom also asked if we wanted to come watch. Early October is National Day holiday, so she can arrange tickets for us."

"Aren't there two more shows planned in Yuhang City later?" Li Luo asked.

Jingzhao City is quite far, but it's not impossible—if possible, avoiding round trips would be more convenient.

"The Yuhang City show this year is on October 17th, Monday—we have class," Yan Zhusheng said. "We can't go."

"Oh, I see," Li Luo nodded, thinking for a moment. "Then we'll see. Yuan Auntie definitely has tickets, right?"

"She'll save some for us."

"Then thank your mom in advance."

"It's only right," Yan Zhusheng shook her head. "Didn't you write her a few new songs again?"

"That? Just happened to come to mind," Li Luo smiled, not particularly caring—it wasn't hard for him at all.

Yuan Wanqing didn't take them for free; she signed real contracts with him, with guaranteed signing fees and royalty shares far higher than before.

If the new songs blow up like the previous ones, just these few could bring Li Luo at least several million in earnings.

When he first returned to life, Li Luo had thought that even if he couldn't punch Alibaba and kick Tencent, he at least had to earn a small goal first, or he'd disgrace the face of a Reborn.

But now, over two years since his rebirth, having earned nearly twenty million, Li Luo was starting to wonder how to spend the money.

Should he look into buying a villa sometime?

After getting his driver's license by year-end, could he buy another car?

The house his parents lived in was actually spacious enough for two, but it could use a full renovation.

Or should he just buy them a brand-new house?

By the way, when Youyu came back earlier, she was muttering that her car was about to be taken by Cui Suling and Lin Xiuhong.

Should he get Mom her own car too?

As Li Luo weighed these thoughts, he realized desire was truly bottomless.

You think a few million will make you financially secure, but once you actually have a few million, you suddenly realize it's barely enough for anything.

Turn around, and you're back to earning more.

Thus, desire is insatiable—sometimes you must remind yourself to stay alert.

"Li Luo, it's hot," Yan Zhusheng said flatly. "What are you thinking about?"

"Oh, sorry," Li Luo had been lost in thought and blew one spot on her hair too long—the hot air had scorched her scalp. "Are you okay?"

"I'm not okay," Yan Zhusheng frowned at him, then turned her cheek toward him. "Kiss me and it'll be fine."

Li Luo had no choice but to lean down and kiss Yan Zhusheng's delicate cheek.

Just then, Ying Chanxi finished her shower and pushed open the door, walking in to see this scene—and immediately narrowed her eyes.

"Why kiss the face when blow-drying hair?"

"Want to try it, Xi Xi?" Yan Zhusheng said seriously, making things up. "Li Luo says it's a free bonus service for blow-drying."

"... I don't remember saying that," Li Luo tugged at his mouth.

But Ying Chanxi had already plopped down, her face stiff. "Zhusheng says you said it, so you said it—hurry up and blow-dry mine too!"

Here it comes, here it comes, I'll blow it for you right away.

(End of Chapter)