Chapter 527: Can

Li Luo brought Yan Zhusheng inside the shop with Shopkeeper Tan Huilin, sitting down at the wooden table designated for customer handicrafts.

At that moment, Tan Huilin suddenly received a phone call, apologized apologetically to Li Luo, then turned to answer it.

Li Luo wasn't in a hurry; he waved her off to take the call, then began fiddling with the items already prepared on the table with Yan Zhusheng.

He glanced at the box beside them, where two more lumps of pre-prepared clay lay inside.

So Li Luo simply pulled out the clay, gestured with his finger to Yan Zhusheng: "Shopkeeper's still on the phone—I'll teach you a little first."

After finally fending off her mother's relentless matchmaking call, Tan Huilin returned to the wooden table to find Yan Zhusheng happily molding clay under Li Luo's guidance.

Listening to Li Luo casually spout off various clay facts, Tan Huilin couldn't help but twitch her lips, thinking that after only two prior visits, this guy had grown remarkably skilled.

"Shopkeeper, how's my teaching?" Li Luo asked with a smile as she returned.

"Very good, no problems," Tan Huilin replied after watching for a while; she noticed Li Luo's technique was genuinely excellent, nothing like someone who'd only visited twice.

And each visit had been spaced two or three months apart—yet he was already this proficient on arrival.

He looked like a seasoned hand at shaping clay by hand.

Thinking this, Tan Huilin's face involuntarily twisted with suspicion.

To be fair, reaching Li Luo's level of skill would require at least half a year of dedicated practice.

But Li Luo had truly only visited her shop twice.

Could it be that my little craft experience studio was just one of his backup options?

Could he be regularly bringing other girls to other clay workshops?

Otherwise, it made no sense.

Tan Huilin clearly remembered that when Li Luo first came to her shop, he'd truly seemed clueless about clay crafting.

After pondering it, Tan Huilin's gaze settled again on Yan Zhusheng's face, sighing inwardly at how exquisite her features were, then tilted her head curiously: "Was your girlfriend the one who dropped you off just now?"

"That's my sister, Shopkeeper—don't you remember?" Li Luo looked at Tan Huilin, raising an eyebrow to remind her.

"Oh right, I forgot," Tan Huilin nodded, then asked, "Last time she came to do the craft, right? Why didn't she come in this time?"

"Last time was her birthday; today isn't," Li Luo said, then pointed to Yan Zhusheng beside him. "Today is my sister's birthday."

"Really your sister?" Tan Huilin covered her mouth and giggled. "I thought she was your girlfriend."

Hearing this, Yan Zhusheng looked up at Tan Huilin, her eyes bright with delight—but after glancing at Li Luo, she obediently lowered her head and resumed carefully shaping her cup.

Li Luo patiently guided Yan Zhusheng's hands as they molded the cup, chatting casually with the shopkeeper.

After confirming Li Luo's skill level, the shopkeeper happily became a hands-off manager, no longer needing to exert effort teaching.

Midway, she went to the counter to handle Taobao orders, yet couldn't resist glancing over at them from afar.

Recalling her earlier conversation with Li Luo, Tan Huilin couldn't help wondering: Had she misjudged him?

So the little girl he brought the first time was his actual girlfriend?

The girl with the full chest who drove them here last time—was she truly Li Luo's sister?

Maybe the hand-holding I saw on the street was just a close sibling bond?

Thinking this, Tan Huilin felt a pang of shame for her earlier misunderstanding; she'd misjudged him.

After all, if Li Luo were really cheating on two girls, how could one girl possibly drive them here herself to meet another equally beautiful girl?

That's ridiculous!

Even the Emperor doesn't have three consorts.

Thinking this, Tan Huilin gradually confirmed her theory.

It seemed Li Luo really did have one sister and one younger sister.

But their facial features didn't look much alike—probably cousins.

Li Luo, seated at the wooden table guiding Yan Zhusheng's hands, naturally had no idea what the shopkeeper was thinking.

He spent two hours playing with clay alongside Yan Zhusheng, finally helping her shape a neat, well-formed blank, then greeted Tan Huilin and asked her to fire it.

"I'll take her out for lunch first. When it's fired, same as before—please call me," Li Luo washed Yan Zhusheng's small hands clean, bid farewell to the shopkeeper, and prepared to leave, planning to take her to the bathhouse afterward.

Tan Huilin nodded in agreement. As she watched them leave, she picked up the two clay blanks on the tray to take them to the kiln—but suddenly paused, set them down, and quietly slipped to the shop entrance.

She peered out toward the direction Li Luo and Yan Zhusheng had walked.

Sure enough, Yan Zhusheng reached out and took Li Luo's hand.

What a close sibling bond… Tan Huilin told herself, but the next second, her eyes widened.

Because Yan Zhusheng didn't just hold his hand—she suddenly leaned in, tiptoed, and kissed Li Luo's cheek.

Li Luo showed no surprise; he merely laughed, patted Yan Zhusheng's rear, then kissed her back.

Seeing this, Tan Huilin couldn't help but spit on the ground.

What sister?

She's clearly his sweetheart!

But…

If Li Luo and Yan Zhusheng were secretly involved, how could the girl from last time have driven them here herself?

Could that girl really have been his sister?

Then who was the girl from the first visit?

Tan Huilin pulled her head back inside, feeling dizzy—love was terrifying.

Her previously wavering resolve to stay single hardened again; she firmly rejected her mother's relentless matchmaking pressure.

Men really were all no good!

…

"I thought I could soak with you."

At just past eleven in the morning, Yan Zhusheng changed into the bathhouse's dedicated bathrobe, climbed upstairs, found Li Luo lounging in a lazy chair, and settled into his lap, complaining softly.

"Not as nice as that villa hot spring in Qiongzhou City."

Li Luo chuckled at her complaint, lifting his hand to pinch her playful, puckered nose. "You've got quite the demands."

"Today is my birthday," Yan Zhusheng said, tilting her head up with serious expression.

"You'll have many, many birthdays ahead—what's the rush?" Li Luo smiled. "I plan to buy a standalone villa nearby after the college entrance exam. If you like soaking, we'll build a hot spring pool then."

"But right now I'm just renting a room from your place, that's why I'm living with you," Yan Zhusheng blinked innocently at Li Luo. "If you buy a villa, won't we be living apart?"

"The villa's huge—plenty of rooms. I can rent you another one," Li Luo said cheerfully.

Hearing this, Yan Zhusheng narrowed her eyes and turned her head away.

"What?" Li Luo found her expression amusing, reached out, and pinched her chin to turn her face back. "Our Zhusheng isn't trying to take advantage of me, is she? Wanting free lodging?"

"Why not?" Yan Zhusheng's mouth was half-open from his grip, her lips pouting, her speech slightly muffled—somehow even cuter for it.

"Not impossible—but not entirely free, right?" Li Luo released her, letting her lean sideways into his arms, then kissed her lightly. "Perfect—I'm planning to set up a piano room soon, and I need a piano teacher. I'll hire you."

"So being a teacher means I can sleep in your house for free?"

"Of course."

"What if I'm not just a teacher?"

"What else do you want to be?"

"What about a wife?"

"I'm still far from the legal marriage age—you're asking too much." "Hmph," Yan Zhusheng buried her head in his chest and gave him a light bump. "Li Luo, you're a bad person."

"If you keep bumping me like that, you'll knock me dead."

"I'll keep bumping."

"Stop." Li Luo let her bump him a few more times, then suddenly pressed her head still. "Listen closely."

"What?"

"Your heartbeat."

"So what?"

"It's pounding from your bumps—you're responsible."

…

For over two hours at noon, Li Luo and Yan Zhusheng soaked in the Golden Lake Spa, ate lunch, and cuddled affectionately.

Li Luo received a call from the innkeeper, then took Yan Zhusheng downstairs, changed clothes, and headed toward the handicraft experience studio.

No error in any word, any line, any content—perfect!

On the way, Li Luo held Yan Zhusheng's hand as they walked down the street, watching the bustling crowds and vehicles, recalling their earlier intimacy and replaying scenes from his past life.

He turned to look at Yan Zhusheng's profile and still felt it was like a dream.

But comparing the two, Li Luo realized he had changed a great deal.

They say when your wallet is full, your confidence grows.

Li Luo felt that in his past life, he had simply been too poor.

Or rather, most people in this world are short on money—lacking that foundation of security, they lack inner drive.

Though it sounds vulgar, comparing his present life with his past, Li Luo saw it was true.

He was, indeed, a very ordinary man.

When he lacked confidence, even playful words felt embarrassing—too awkward, too shameful to say aloud.

Now, they came effortlessly, making Yan Zhusheng scold and laugh in turn.

Thinking back on how they interacted in his past life, the difference was enormous.

If this girl knew that in his past life he had been her hired employee, what would she think?

Li Luo pulled his gaze away from Yan Zhusheng's delicate profile, thought of these things, and couldn't help but smile wryly.

"Li Luo, what are you laughing at?"

"Nothing. Just thinking of something funny."

"What funny thing?"

"For example… when you're thirty or forty, what kind of job will you have?" Li Luo said casually.

"Hmm…" Yan Zhusheng frowned, deep in thought. "I don't want a regular job. I'd rather just sing and get paid."

Though singing alone wouldn't guarantee income, it wasn't far off.

That's what Li Luo thought to himself.

In his past life, Yan Zhusheng was, technically speaking, a musician.

She provided services to companies needing music.

Li Luo knew she had composed background music for several well-known game companies.

And theme songs for TV dramas and anime, too.

Her piano videos on TikTok were merely a personal hobby—she never devoted much energy to them.

"And you? Will you write books and songs in the future?" Yan Zhusheng tilted her head to look at him.

"After a few more years of hard work, I'll retire and enjoy life," Li Luo said with a light laugh.

He had the advantage of rebirth—foreknowledge and the Memory Palace to aid him—so he understood future societal trends perfectly.

Once he completed his initial capital accumulation these years, making money from money would be simple.

His later life would almost certainly be spent in comfort and abundance.

"So what will you be doing at thirty or forty?"

"Probably traveling and sightseeing," Li Luo said, his gaze lingering on Yan Zhusheng's face, then drifting over her slender figure, admiring her long, beautiful legs.

The two walked on, chatting idly toward the handicraft experience studio.

From just after one in the afternoon until around three, Yan Zhusheng, under Li Luo's careful guidance, painted some designs on the cups.

He then asked the shop owner to continue firing them; Li Luo took Yan Zhusheng's small hand and took a stroll along the nearby riverbank, returning only at five in the evening when the two cups were fired and wrapped by the shop owner in an elegant gift box.

"Thank you, shop owner," Li Luo said, taking the gift bag and handing it to Yan Zhusheng, then smiling as he took his leave. "We'll see each other again."

"Mm, bye," Tan Huilin did not say goodbye, forcing a faint smile, thinking it would be better if they never came again.

Otherwise, it would mean another young girl had fallen into his clutches.

If Li Luo ever brought another Miss to her shop next time, Tan Huilin would truly have nothing left to say.

Li Luo had no idea how rich the shop owner's inner world was; after leaving with Yan Zhusheng, he waited at the intersection outside the alley for Xu Youyu, who had come to pick them up.

"Get in, get in—I've been waiting over ten minutes. Why did you take so long?" Xu Youyu rolled down her window, frowning. "Aunt Yuan's already here."

"When did she arrive?" Li Luo asked as he pulled Yan Zhusheng into the car.

"She got here just after three," Xu Youyu said. "Aunt Lin dragged her off to play mahjong—there was a gap at the table, so Chanxi was brought along too. They're probably just finishing now and making dinner."

"What about the birthday cake?"

"We're going to pick it up now—it's on the way," Xu Youyu said, starting the car and heading toward the cake shop.

Yan Zhusheng, tired from the day's activities, leaned against Li Luo's shoulder and closed her eyes to rest, while Li Luo chatted with Xu Youyu.

When Xu Youyu learned they had made cups today too, she couldn't help laughing: "You've got three cups now—can you even use them all?"

"One for water, one for drinks, one for alcohol," Li Luo replied with a smile, easily devising a solution.

Chanxi's daily care is always quiet and subtle—perfect for water.

Zhusheng always speaks straight to the point, like a drink—intensely flavored, whether sour or sweet, always full of taste—perfect for drinks.

As for Youyu, using her cup for alcohol is only natural—no need to explain.

Three cups may seem excessive, but they're just right.

Li Luo felt he was truly clever.

But when they returned to the neighborhood gate with the cake, Yan Zhusheng said she wanted to go to the supermarket; once inside, she headed straight for the drink aisle, grabbing bottle after bottle of large-sized drinks and taking them to the checkout.

Seeing this, Li Luo was stunned.

"You've already picked up over ten large bottles! When are you going to drink them all?"

"You can use them as water," Yan Zhusheng said seriously.

Li Luo: "..."

(End of Chapter)