Chapter 565: The Rest of My Life

The music in the living room flowed slowly.

The candlelight on the dining table was soft and warm, casting a dreamy glow over the moment.

In the instant Xu Youyu saw Li Luo pull the ring from his red sock, her pupils shrank slightly and her breath halted.

Though she had guessed Li Luo might prepare some small surprise for her, she never imagined it would be this.

Even though it wasn't a diamond ring, and there was no grand ceremony—only Li Luo taking her hand and slowly sliding the ring onto her ring finger.

Yet even so, Xu Youyu felt a tingling sensation on her finger, like an electric current shooting straight to her brain.

Her eyelashes trembled slightly, her lips curled upward unconsciously, then she forcibly pressed them shut.

Only after Li Luo had fully slipped the ring onto her finger did Xu Youyu look down at it, her gaze shifting, as if some immense force held her eyes captive.

Only when the fluttering in her heart eased slightly did Xu Youyu lift her head to look at Li Luo.

Seeing him smiling at her, Xu Youyu bit her lip and asked softly, "Where did you hide it just now? Really in the sock?"

"Nope." Li Luo blinked, laughing. "There was nothing in the sock—but when I reached in, the ring was already in my hand."

Xu Youyu: "... You've got quite a few tricks."

"Don't you like it, Youyu?"

"I like it." Xu Youyu tiptoed, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him. "But if Xixi has one, I assume Zhusheng has one too?"

"Don't ruin such a romantic moment with something so dreary," Li Luo coughed.

"Hmph~" Xu Youyu pressed her lips firmly against his, and after a long while, asked again, "Where did this ring come from?"

"I made it myself at the craft workshop last time."

"No wonder," Xu Youyu said, her expression lightening with understanding.

After they parted, Xu Youyu sat on the sofa and raised her right hand, examining it closely—she realized the ring was no ordinary piece.

Not only were the words "Xu Youyu & Li Luo" engraved on the outside, but when she took it off, the inner band bore the pen name "Sleep Early to Grow Taller & Chongran."

"Does Xixi's ring have anything engraved inside too?"

"No." Li Luo shook his head, smiling. "I only engraved your pen name inside because I knew you'd hate the embarrassment—so no one else could see it."

"So I should thank you for being so thoughtful?"

"Is this thoughtful? I've got even more thoughtful ideas."

"... Where are you touching?"

After Christmas, Xu Youyu went to school on Monday.

After lunch, back in the dorm, Zhao Letian asked curiously, "Youyu, I see you've got a new ring—is it from Li Luo?"

"Yeah." Xu Youyu smiled at her roommate's question, finally unable to hold back her urge to share. "He gave it to me yesterday for Christmas."

As she recounted her date from the day before, Xu Youyu showed the ring to Zhao Letian.

"It's engraved too? Wow," Zhao Letian leaned in to examine it closely.

Xie Xiuying also glanced curiously, feeling a pang of envy.

But Jiang Feiya, who was fixing her makeup at the desk, asked, "This isn't even a diamond ring—isn't it cheap?"

"He made it himself," Xu Youyu said.

"That makes it even more meaningful," Zhao Letian sighed. "Li Luo treats you so well."

"If Song Yu gave me something like this, I wouldn't even want it," Jiang Feiya muttered under her breath, too quietly for others to hear.

Then Jiang Feiya added, "You need a diamond ring for a real proposal—this is nothing."

"Diamonds don't matter," Xu Youyu replied with a smile. "What matters in a proposal is the feeling, not the prop."

"The diamond is part of the feeling," Jiang Feiya countered.

"That's your feeling—not mine."

"Alright, alright, I'm going to nap," Zhao Letian climbed into bed as the two began arguing again. "Stop talking, be quiet."

Xu Youyu didn't want to argue further with someone like Jiang Feiya, so she fell silent, unwilling to waste words.

In Xu Youyu's view, spending money on a diamond ring to feed someone's greed was better spent on a few more good meals.

When her parents got married, they never talked about diamond rings—just went to the gold shop and had a pair of gold rings made.

At least those hold their value.

What about diamonds?

A hundred-thousand-yuan diamond ring? Ninety-nine thousand of it is marketing fluff.

Xu Youyu wasn't impressed by such things—she preferred something real.

Precisely because of her personality and values, she could write Online Novels in the male-oriented genre without making readers feel off.

Generally, female authors who succeed in male-oriented Online Novels—unless they're exceptional cases—have normal values, and rarely think like Jiang Feiya's little fairy mindset.

While Xu Youyu returned to her dorm to rest, Li Luo and the others at Fuyi Middle School were also taking their noon break.

"Why are you staring at me all the time?"

Li Luo leaned back against the pillow, turning his head toward Yan Zhusheng beside him. Seeing her lying on the pillow wide awake, eyes fixed on him, he asked.

"No reason," Yan Zhusheng blinked, her tone calm, her thoughts unreadable.

But the next second, Li Luo saw her extend a small hand toward him, holding it still.

Li Luo: "... What are you doing?"

Saying this, he reached out, took her small hand in his, and gently squeezed and played with it.

But Yan Zhusheng seemed displeased—she immediately pulled her hand back, turned her head, and presented her back of the head to Li Luo—her mood clearly sour.

For the next several days, Yan Zhusheng would occasionally stare at Li Luo for long stretches.

At home, her gaze would drift between Ying Chanxi and Xu Youyu's fingers, then she'd silently purse her lips.

XiXi's ring was given last Wednesday; the senior's ring only appeared on her finger over the weekend.

Yan Zhusheng's clever little mind analyzed it quickly—Li Luo must have prepared his own gift too, but she just didn't know when he'd give it to her.

This left her heart itching; every time Li Luo looked at her, Yan Zhusheng would wonder inside: Is Li Luo about to give her a ring?

But for several days straight, no surprise came from Li Luo.

Until the day of Fuyi Middle School's New Year's Eve party.

"Let Hua Xiuxiu and the others handle this class activity," Li Luo said to Ying Chanxi and Yan Zhusheng. "Let's go for a walk."

On the morning of Fuyi Middle School's New Year's Eve party, each class prepared small games; completing one earned a stamp. Collect all sixteen class stamps, and you could go downstairs for a lottery draw.

In the afternoon, clubs held activities—you could visit other clubs and try their mini-games.

In the evening came the official New Year's bonfire party.

Performances were held in rotation by class, club, or individual.

This year, Class 8 of Gao San prepared the game "Fishing for the Moon in the Sea"—actually, using special tools to scoop marbles out of a prepared water basin.

Scooping up five or more marbles within the time limit counted as passing.

Li Luo and Yan Zhusheng's fingers were relatively dexterous—they passed on the first try.

Ying Chanxi was a little nervous and failed twice before barely passing.

"Your hands are too small—you can't grip the spoon?" Li Luo took Ying Chanxi's small hand and compared it to his own palm, smiling. "Your fingertips barely reach above my knuckles."

"It's just that your hands are too big," Ying Chanxi huffed. "And the spoon they prepared is too soft—it bounces. How could you possibly scoop up marbles easily?"

"If you're bad, practice more."

!

"If you're so capable, beat me on the exam."

Li Luo: "... You wait. One day, it'll happen."

"When I get first place in the whole school, you still have to grant me one favor."

"Let me think... what should I make you do?"

Seeing him seriously start imagining, Ying Chanxi huffed: "Stop thinking. That day will never come."

"Let XiXi sleep in her own room at night," Yan Zhusheng suggested beside them.

"Zhusheng?!" Ying Chanxi widened her eyes at Yan Zhusheng, stunned to hear such cold words from her best friend.

"Four people in one room is still a bit cramped," Yan Zhusheng explained seriously.

"Cramped is better," Li Luo chuckled. "Come on, let's go to the next classroom."

The three didn't rush to get the lottery draw early; instead, they strolled slowly through each classroom, enjoying the games and the fun.

By the time noon neared, they'd collected all sixteen stamps and went downstairs for the lottery.

Since their ranking was already beyond one hundred, each had only one lottery chance.

In the end, all three received "Thank You for Participating" prizes: one large White Rabbit milk candy each.

"Here." Li Luo held three White Rabbit milk candies, peeled two, and slipped them into Ying Chanxi and Yan Zhusheng's mouths.

Seeing he didn't eat any, Yan Zhusheng asked: "Aren't you eating the third one?"

"Lunch is coming. No snacks before meals."

Li Luo slipped the last White Rabbit milk candy into his pocket, then led the two girls toward the cafeteria to have lunch.

In the afternoon, the three Gao San students, all having left their clubs, visited the clubs they'd once belonged to.

The Literature Club was the same as ever—nothing new for New Year's Day—so the three wandered over to the Rock Club.

Thanks to the glory Yan Zhusheng and Li Luo had once brought the Rock Club, its new members had increased significantly these past two years.

Now the club had over a dozen members, with at least two backups for every position—no more worries about shortages.

For this New Year's Eve party, they specially prepared "The Sky Has No Limits," the song Yan Zhusheng had sung the most times.

To this day, it felt almost like the Rock Club's official anthem.

"It's a pity you two aren't performing at the New Year's Eve party," Ying Chanxi said as she left the Rock Club with them.

"We're not missing," Yan Zhusheng blinked. "This year, Li Luo and I will still perform."

"Huh?" Ying Chanxi froze. "Really? But didn't the Rock Club people just say their performers were already set?"

"We're not performing with the Rock Club," Yan Zhusheng shook her head, then pointed at Li Luo. "It's just me and Li Luo—oh no, wait, also Teacher Kong."

"Why didn't I know about this before?" Ying Chanxi frowned, slightly annoyed. "You're keeping secrets from me?"

"Teacher Kong asked us to keep it secret," Li Luo ruffled her hair. "He wants to surprise Teacher Ding, so he didn't tell anyone."

"Then what will you sing?" Ying Chanxi nodded, understanding, then asked curiously.

"A new song. You'll find out tonight," Li Luo smiled. "But Teacher Kong will sing—we're just there to accompany him."

After the afternoon's free time ended and dinner was over, everyone returned to their classrooms.

When the assembly music sounded, Fuyi Middle School students rose, carried their chairs, lined up in the hallway, and walked toward the cement area of the basketball court.

The Gao San building was closest to the basketball court, so they entered first and were seated in the westernmost section.

After sitting down, Ying Chanxi stood up and took Zhu Yufei, Zhang Guohuang, and a few others to the backstage to prepare for their skit.

Li Luo sat beside Kong Junxiang and winked at him.

Kong Junxiang pursed his lips, nervously glancing at Ding Xiang on the other side, then gave Li Luo a subtle nod.

Li Luo smiled and turned his gaze to the stage.

As Gao Er and Gao Yi students filed in, the bonfire ahead was lit, and the basketball court instantly grew warm.

The principal took the stage to give a speech, officially declaring the New Year's bonfire party open, followed by one performance after another.

When it came to the fifth act, it was finally the turn of Gao San Class 8's skit.

The skit was titled "Gao San Class 8." Li Luo imitated several campus-themed skits he had seen in his past life, then incorporated the antics of Zhu Yufei, Zhang Guohuang, and the others into the script.

Watching them on stage deliver their absurd lines with deadpan seriousness, the students below burst into laughter—this effect had been achieved.

Especially since several of the jokes were based on real events that had happened in the class, the students of Class 8 laughed uncontrollably.

Even Ding Xiang beside them was shaking with laughter.

But Kong Junxiang gripped his hands tightly, occasionally rubbing them hard, forcing out a couple of laughs.

As time passed, "Gao San Class 8" concluded successfully, and the subsequent acts took the stage one by one.

Finally, it was almost Kong Junxiang's turn.

At the reminder of a student council member, he stood up, greeted Ding Xiang, then took Li Luo and Yan Zhusheng with him to prepare backstage.

"Do your best," Ding Xiang called after him, "I'll come up on stage and give you flowers later~"

Kong Junxiang turned with a smile, then hurried toward the backstage.

Li Luo and Yan Zhusheng followed behind. After the Rock Society members finished performing "The Sky Has No Limits," they grabbed the guitar and keyboard and accompanied Kong Junxiang onstage.

"Next, please welcome Gao San Class 8's homeroom teacher, Teacher Kong, along with Li Luo and Yan Zhusheng, as they perform 'The Rest of My Life'!"

(End of Chapter)