Chapter 579: Let

With Zhao Rongjun's earnest explanations, Xu Yinghuan finally believed that her father hadn't bullied Zhao Rongjun.

"Even if it's true, why are you so worked up?" Li Luo chuckled from the side. "You just got a bit drunk, right? I drank too."

"How can that be the same?" Xu Yinghuan wrinkled her nose. "Jun-ge doesn't like those kinds of settings—I specifically told my dad to have separate tables at dinner, and you still took him over to drink."

"You were the one who suggested separate tables?"

"Well, who else?" Xu Yinghuan shot him a look. "Otherwise, with twenty people eating, my dad isn't going to struggle to find a suitable private room."

"They adults eat their meal, we kids eat ours."

"Otherwise we wouldn't even get to talk during dinner—it'd be pointless."

"You really thought of everything." Li Luo smiled and dropped the subject, walking with Zhao Rongjun into the mahjong room.

At this moment, several mothers inside were playing mahjong.

Cao Sufen, Yu Zhenqin, Lin Xiuhong, and Cui Suling sat in a circle, playing mahjong, while Liu Xianmei, as host, naturally sat beside them, smiling and steering the conversation.

Yuan Wanqing, as a big star, had become the karaoke queen; Xu Youyu and the other kids were picking songs, and Yuan Wanqing happily grabbed the microphone and began singing.

Xu Yinghuan's family rarely used their karaoke system, so the song library hadn't been updated much—some songs couldn't be found, but Yuan Wanqing simply sang a cappella without any issue.

The moment Zhao Rongjun stepped into this setting, he froze like a broken robot.

In the seven-person study group, there had already been plenty of girls.

Now with six more mothers present, the male-to-female ratio in the room had reached a level that left Zhao Rongjun gasping for air.

Fortunately, Li Luo didn't force Zhao Rongjun to do anything; seeing his state, he simply dragged the guy to the computer, found a game, and made him play for a while.

The first parent gathering of the study group ended in this harmonious and friendly atmosphere.

At around ten at night, Xu Rongbin arranged several designated drivers to take everyone home.

Even Zhao Rongjun's family, who had come by electric scooter, had a driver sent to retrieve the scooter and then hailed a taxi to take them away.

Xu Youyu hadn't drunk any alcohol that night; she drove Li Luo and the other two back to Bihai Lanting.

Yan Zhusheng went to bathe first, while Xu Youyu returned to her room to write.

Ying Chanxi, seeing Li Luo half-reclining on the sofa to rest, sat down beside him, letting his head rest against her knees, then asked curiously, "You really are going to buy that villa?"

"I'll definitely buy one villa, but I haven't decided where yet." Li Luo closed his eyes, reached out, and felt for Ying Chanxi's small hand, then pulled it onto his head. "Give me a massage."

"You drank, didn't you?"

"Just a little." Li Luo wasn't dizzy from alcohol—he simply remembered how his father, after getting drunk, always had his mother rub his head, so he wanted Ying Chanxi to try it too.

Ying Chanxi naturally didn't refuse; her soft hands gently massaged his scalp, then added, "Actually, living here in Bihai Lanting is pretty nice too."

"I'm just worried there won't be enough room later." Li Luo secretly opened one eye to glance at Ying Chanxi, suppressing a grin.

The next second, Ying Chanxi's pressure increased sharply.

"Ow~ lighter, lighter~"

"Hmph." Ying Chanxi eased her pressure, then said, "Don't say things carelessly—think before you speak."

"I was thinking we could bring my parents over to live with us—it's closer to Qianjiang University, and my dad can easily check on his hot pot restaurant." Li Luo, shameless, turned the accusation around. "What are you imagining?"

"What could I imagine?" Ying Chanxi puffed out her cheeks, then deliberately pressed harder; when Li Luo groaned in pain, she loosened her grip. "You've got plenty of money—buy if you want. I'm just worried you'll waste it."

"Don't worry—I won't waste it." Li Luo rolled onto his side on the sofa, burying his face in Ying Chanxi's abdomen, inhaling her fragrance, and sighing contentedly. "I'm spending every penny wisely—for a better future."

Ying Chanxi knew exactly what this guy had in mind.

The problem was, Xu Youyu and Yan Zhusheng didn't seem opposed at all, leaving Ying Chanxi unsure how to object.

In the end, she could only sulk inwardly and vent it by pressing harder on Li Luo's head.

"My uncle knows a few real estate bosses." Li Luo finally grew serious after resting a while. "Remember when we traveled to Qiongzhou City? The seaside villa we rented belonged to one of them."

"Anyway, I've got plenty of connections—I'm sure I can get some discounts."

"The key is whether you like it. When we go to view properties, you should give your opinion too."

"What opinion can I give?" Ying Chanxi remained stubborn, lifting her chin with a haughty sniff. "It's not for me to live in—just buy what you like."

"Then I'll ask Zhusheng and Youyu-jie for their opinions."

"You!"

Hearing this, Ying Chanxi panicked, grabbing Li Luo and pinching him hard.

Li Luo yelped, wriggling in her lap; the two soon tumbled into a playful struggle, ending with Ying Chanxi pinned beneath him on the sofa.

He teased her for a while, until her cheeks flushed crimson, her lips glistened, her breathing came in short gasps, and she looked soft and dazed—only then did Li Luo let her go.

When Ying Chanxi lay limp and dazed in Li Luo's arms, she whispered quietly into his chest: "The environment at Yinghuan's place… is actually pretty nice."

"You like it?"

"I-I guess it's okay… but our Bihai Lanting isn't bad either."

"What does that matter?" Li Luo grinned. "West of Ningshan Avenue, there's another famous private middle school in Yinjiang District—and the experimental elementary school isn't far either."

"When we have kids and they need to go to school, we can still bring them back here to live."

"A school district house needs to have school district value."

"W-what are you saying…?" Ying Chanxi's entire body flushed hot at his words, shrinking into his arms, her voice barely a whisper. "What kids… who… who's going to have kids with you…?"

"Let's name the kid Li Lianxi."

"That's awful!" Ying Chanxi, utterly flustered, leapt up from his arms and fled in a hurry.

But once she escaped to her room, burrowed under the covers, the name Li Lianxi kept swirling in her mind, leaving her momentarily spellbound.

Only when Yan Zhusheng called out did Ying Chanxi snap back to reality.

"Chanxi, what are you thinking about?" Yan Zhusheng leaned over the bed, peering at her. "It's your turn to shower."

"O-oh! I'm coming right away!"

…

Although the dinner had ended, the study group's learning life continued as before.

Early the next morning, Zhao Rongjun and the other two packed their bags and went to Bihai Lanting to continue their review schedule.

Near noon, Lin Xiuhong and Cui Suling arrived together to prepare lunch for the children.

After finishing the meal and clearing the table, Lin Xiuhong looked at Li Luo, who was doing nothing, and asked, "Aren't you already an adult? Why haven't you taken driving lessons during winter break?"

"If you learn early, you can drive us when we visit relatives for the New Year."

Hearing his mother mention this, Li Luo shook his head and said, "No rush—I'll take the lessons with Chanxi after her birthday in March."

"What about me?" Yan Zhusheng blinked beside him. "Why not wait until after my birthday to go together?"

"By the time your birthday comes, it'll be September," Li Luo laughed. "You'll be swamped with freshman year starting."

"Besides, by then all three of us will have licenses—you don't even need to learn."

"Oh." Yan Zhusheng nodded obediently.

She just wanted to stay with Li Luo, but the idea of learning to drive alone made her reluctant.

"Going together after Chanxi's birthday… won't that affect your college entrance exams?" Lin Xiuhong added.

"Mom, relax," Li Luo reassured her. "Unless we accidentally go to the wrong exam center, Qianjiang University is a sure thing."

"That attitude won't do," Lin Xiuhong frowned. "Don't be careless, okay? You haven't even taken the exam yet, and you're already overconfident."

Li Luo knew he couldn't out-argue his mother, so he raised his hands in surrender and admitted he understood.

Then he smoothly changed the subject: "I didn't get to ask yesterday—how was your trip with Dad?"

"Great," Lin Xiuhong chuckled. "We went on a road trip with your uncle's family—no need to plan anything ourselves. Your dad and I just drove and enjoyed the scenery."

Watching his mother gradually learn to enjoy life, Li Luo smiled warmly.

He was only eighteen now, still seventeen full years away from the point when he'd been reincarnated in his last life.

In his previous life, his parents had to work hard for so long, never getting to enjoy a peaceful retirement—instead, illness after illness struck them.

Now, with nearly twenty years of life ahead, Li Luo had enough time to help his parents truly enjoy life.

If life was fulfilling, they paid attention to regular checkups, and took care of their health, Lin Xiuhong's illness from her past life might never appear in this one.

Watching his mother sit on the sofa, animatedly sharing stories from their northwest trip, Li Luo leaned against the wall, arms crossed, smiling at the scene.

…

As time passed, the winter break slipped away, and soon it was nearing New Year's Eve.

On January 25, Li Guohong drove over to Bihai Lanting to pick them up.

"We're leaving now," Li Luo said early that morning, entering Xu Youyu's bedroom and tapping the blanket-covered figure. "Pack up and go home today—remember to visit us on the first day of the New Year."

"Got it~" Xu Youyu mumbled under the covers. "Don't wake me up."

"How cruel—you're about to leave, and you won't even open your eyes to say goodbye." Li Luo sighed dramatically.

"What nonsense are you talking?" Xu Youyu pulled back the blanket, revealing his head with a blank expression. "It's only three days. You sound like we're parting forever—are you going to war?"

"A day without you feels like three autumns. Three days? That's three years." Li Luo teased.

"Hmph." Xu Youyu rolled his eyes. "Who kept me up late last night? Who's responsible for me being this tired?"

"Who was really the one tormenting whom?" Li Luo pinched Xu Youyu's cheek. "You're the one squeezing me dry."

"You were being stubborn—I was just helping you cool down."

"That's not cooling down—you extinguished my fire three times, then at midnight, when I was barely smoldering, you deliberately fanned it back up!" Li Luo grumbled.

"I was just curious," Xu Youyu muttered, embarrassed, pulling the blanket back over his face, leaving only his eyes visible, blinking shyly. "You kept saying you couldn't, but you still could."

"It's bad for your health!"

"Then let me help you recover?"

"Don't even think about it."

While the two were playfully teasing in the room, Lin Xiuhong's voice called from outside.

Li Luo leaned down and pressed a quick kiss on Xu Youyu's cheek, then finally got up to leave.

The next second, his wrist was grabbed.

Xu Youyu turned his head, offering the other cheek he hadn't kissed yet, making soft, pleading noises.

Li Luo laughed, leaned down, and gave a firm kiss—only then did he break free from Xu Youyu's grasp.

"Where's Youyu?" Lin Xiuhong asked in the living room.

"Sleeping in. We can just leave."

"Alright, let's go."

Lin Xiuhong nodded, called to Li Luo, Ying Chanxi, and Yan Zhusheng, and they all got into Li Guohong's car.

Li Guohong drove first to the wholesale market, where the family bought New Year goods and loaded them into the trunk, then set off on their journey home.

"By the way, where's Uncle Ying?" Li Luo asked curiously. "Isn't he coming back with us today? What about Aunt Yuan?"

"Aunt Yuan has an interview today—she's a busy person," Lin Xiuhong smiled. "So Uncle Ying will come back a day later, and they'll return to the countryside together tomorrow."

"Oh." Li Luo nodded, his eyes instinctively glancing left and right, meeting the gazes of Ying Chanxi and Yan Zhusheng.

Both girls understood perfectly.

An interview? Why not just go straight home after it?

With today's road infrastructure, the drive back to the countryside takes barely over half an hour.

The truth was, Ying Zhicheng and Yuan Wanqing rarely got to spend time together—so an extra night alone was more than welcome.

Li Luo sighed inwardly, already thinking about how to find the right moment to warn Ying Zhicheng in advance, so they could sit down and talk properly.

For the sake of their future happiness, Li Luo was truly wearing himself out.