Chapter 580

Li Family Village.

Li Xiang sat in his bedroom, staring at the laptop on his desk, the screen displaying data from his author backend.

He looked at the pitifully low collection count, sighed deeply, then silently closed the laptop, sentencing himself to death.

He was already in his third year of university.

In another year and a half, he would graduate.

According to his family, he could try taking the postgraduate entrance exam or the civil service exam.

His family preferred prioritizing the civil service exam, and if he failed, he could fall back on the postgraduate exam.

But Li Xiang didn't really want to spend his whole life in such quiet stability—he always wanted to do something he truly desired.

Perhaps influenced by Li Luo, after the fall semester started this year, with less academic pressure, he impulsively launched a new online novel.

Hmm…

The result was obvious—he flopped.

He still refused to believe it, launching at least four or five books over several months.

The longest one reached only 100,000 words, barely meeting the minimum threshold for voluntary contract application, so he clicked apply.

Still, he received no reply—none of the editors showed any interest.

With no good news during the New Year holiday, Li Xiang finally saw the truth: he simply wasn't cut out for this.

Looking at his cheap uncle's six-million-word epic, Li Xiang couldn't help but feel even greater admiration.

How the hell did he even write that?!

He's not even human!

He'd already exhausted his brain after writing just 100,000 words.

Or rather, he'd been in that state since the third or fifth ten thousand words.

The remaining tens of thousands were pure forced output—dryer than sugarcane pulp.

Li Xiang sighed, confirming he had no talent for online novels—he couldn't make a living from this.

If he couldn't find something he was passionate about before graduation, he'd probably have to take the civil service or postgraduate exams.

If he failed both, he'd have to slink home and inherit his father's business.

What a bleak future.

As Li Xiang thought this, he heard the sound of a car outside the window.

He leaned out and saw Li Guohong driving into the neighboring yard.

Has Uncle come back?

Li Xiang opened the window and leaned out; the car had stopped, the rear door opened, and Ying Chanxi stepped out.

Li Luo followed right behind.

On the other side, Yan Zhusheng also got out of the car.

Seeing the two aunts' figures, Li Xiang couldn't help but sigh.

It's enough to make a man die of envy.

Even when returning to the countryside for the New Year, his uncle can still have one on each arm—damn it!

How much longer must this plot, only found in novels, continue to unfold on Li Luo?!

Every New Year, he gets hit with this shock—he should demand compensation for emotional distress from Li Luo.

Watching Li Luo and the others get out of the car, Li Xiang turned, pulled on his down jacket, slipped on his shoes, opened the door, rushed downstairs, and quickly ran over to the neighboring yard to help carry the New Year goods.

Yan Zhusheng carried her suitcase, silently following behind Li Luo, heading straight upstairs.

The next second, she felt her wrist grabbed.

She turned her head and, with an innocent, puzzled expression, asked Ying Chanxi: "What's wrong, Xixi?"

"What's wrong?" Ying Chanxi chuckled, holding tight to Yan Zhusheng's wrist. "You're going to the wrong place—come with me to my room to put your things down."

Hearing this, Yan Zhusheng couldn't help but sigh, casting a reluctant glance at the window of Li Luo's third-floor bedroom, then obediently followed Ying Chanxi to store her luggage.

But as they walked, Yan Zhusheng muttered under her breath: "Xixi, you stingy little thing."

"Who are you calling stingy?" Ying Chanxi shot her a disgruntled glare. "Didn't you sleep in my room last year too?"

"Senior and her parents are coming the day after tomorrow," Yan Zhusheng reminded her. "Where will she sleep?"

"Your mom and my dad will stay in the empty rooms on Li Luo's side; the senior will stay with us."

"But there are only three rooms on the third floor," Yan Zhusheng asked, puzzled. "Your dad takes one, my mom takes one, we take one—that's all."

"I've promised Li Luo I'll have a proper talk with my dad," Ying Chanxi said, pursing her lips reluctantly. "Then won't my dad and your mom share a room?"

"Oh, so you've agreed to their relationship," Yan Zhusheng nodded, speaking with certainty.

"I didn't say that," Ying Chanxi huffed, pulling her suitcase and returning with Yan Zhusheng to her own bedroom to unpack, then going downstairs again to Li Luo's house.

Lunch was a simple meal.

In the afternoon, Ying Chanxi and Yan Zhusheng joined Lin Xiuhong and Li Luo's eldest aunt, Li Xuexian, for a game of mahjong.

It was an annual tradition.

While they played, Li Luo's second aunt and youngest aunt also returned; after settling in, their two cousins joined them in the living room, waiting for dinner.

Li Luo's youngest aunt's daughter, Chen Sijia, had just graduated from university and taken a job as a programmer.

Li Luo's second aunt's daughter, Chen Lu, had been promoted at the bank with Li Luo's initial capital support and was now a department supervisor.

The whole family was thriving; the second and youngest aunts had finally seen success, having raised their daughters into capable women—the New Year atmosphere in the living room was lively.

But then again.

Once a person's career was settled, the elders never stopped talking.

So, as they chatted, the conversation inevitably turned to finding a partner and getting married.

In this regard, Cousin Chen Yongqi had long absorbed all the harm from his countless aunts and uncles, immune to advice, only wanting to drown in his own two-dimensional world.

Chen Lu and Chen Sijia also began being forced to bear the brunt for Chen Yongqi, questioned about their romantic lives.

As for Chen Sijia, she strongly resisted the idea of dating and had shown no signs whatsoever.

Chen Lu, however, had gone on a few dates—two or three—in the years since he started working.

But none were quite right, and none worked out in the end.

As for Li Xiang, others would nudge him too, and Chen Lu, as someone who'd been there, warned: "Once you graduate, sure, you can still find someone—but your feelings won't be as pure as they were in school, so it's better to find someone early."

"True," Li Luo nodded beside him, agreeing with this view.

Hearing Li Luo's agreement, Li Xiang shot him a deadfish eye, speechless.

Looking over at Ying Chanxi and Yan Zhusheng, who were playing mahjong with Lin Xiuhong, Li Xiang's lip twitched—he thought, Uncle, you're really a man of action.

Isn't this what they mean by unity of knowledge and action?

But aren't you taking action a bit too far?

The purest feelings of student life… you mean dating three girlfriends?!

Li Xiang swallowed a mouthful of bitter words, unable to spit them out, and let them sink down his throat.

…

After dinner, Uncle Li Guoru called Li Luo over to their drinking table and poured him a glass of wine.

At the table, Li Guoru chatted awhile, then steered the topic to Chongran Culture, explaining some matters to Li Luo.

"I'm getting old, and the company's just starting—I'm a bit interested in this field, so I'll keep an eye on things for you awhile," Li Guoru sipped his baijiu, then added, "But once you enter university, I'll be retiring to enjoy my peace."

"See if you can find someone suitable to take over the company's operations."

"Mainly just finance and basic business coordination—nothing much else."

"Thanks, Uncle," Li Luo stood and toasted Li Guoru, then asked, "Do you have anyone suitable in mind?"

"You'd better find someone yourself," Li Guoru said.

"Alright," Li Luo nodded understandingly, thinking of Xu Rongsheng.

As a professor and Vice Dean at Qianjiang University, he certainly had enough connections—Li Luo could ask later if he had any recommendations.

Just then, Li Xiang, who had finished eating at the next table, sidled over, grinning sheepishly: "Grandpa, what about me?"

"What about you?" Li Guoru blinked, then realized, glancing sideways, "Be serious. Don't even think about this nonsense."

"What nonsense?" Li Xiang protested. "I'm from the University of Finance and Economics—I majored in financial management. What's wrong with helping out in your company?"

Li Luo now stared at Li Xiang with a strange expression: "I run a dead-end office. Why would you come here?"

"It's interesting," Li Xiang said. "I heard you handle film and TV copyright sales, music licensing—things like that. I'd like to see how it works."

"Are you still taking the civil service exam?"

"You said it's a dead-end office—low workload anyway. I can study for the exam while working in your company," Li Xiang replied. "Plus, I'll get an internship certificate."

"Well, I suppose that's not impossible," Li Luo chuckled.

But Li Luo certainly wouldn't trust Li Xiang to handle finances alone.

Previously, Uncle had been there—a seasoned veteran. If it were Li Xiang, Li Luo wouldn't dare hand over full control.

He'd still need Xu Rongsheng to recommend suitable candidates.

As for later on…

Li Luo turned to look at Ying Chanxi, who was eating at the next table.

Just then, Ying Chanxi was looking at him too, and their gazes met midair.

Li Luo smiled at her; she immediately looked puzzled, as if asking why he was smiling.

At that moment, Uncle Li Guoru brought up another matter: "Earlier you asked me if there were any suitable villa neighborhoods in Yinjiang District."

"I asked around, and there are a few good ones—all newly launched in the past two years, with excellent environments and facilities."

"If you're interested, I'll put you in touch with them—you can go see them yourself."

"OK, thanks, Uncle," Li Luo nodded and toasted again, then turned to his father and asked, "Want to go together?"

"You're really buying?" Li Guohong hesitated.

This was a villa in Yuhang City—assets easily starting at tens of millions.

Though Li Luo's net worth was already substantial, the thought of spending such a huge sum still made Li Guohong wince.

"When the whole family lives together, you and Mom can both enjoy peace—how good is that?"

"It's good," Li Guohong said, realizing he couldn't argue with his son—and since the money was Li Luo's own, he'd stop meddling and just enjoy it. "Fine, I leave it to you. Whatever you decide."

Lin Xiuhong at the next table felt the same.

As Li Luo earned more money and his career flourished, his family status was no longer comparable to two years ago.

In the past, whenever family discussions involved something as major as buying a house, Lin Xiuhong would always chime in, chattering endlessly with her own ideas.

But now, when Li Luo said he wanted to buy a house—especially a villa—Lin Xiuhong showed no intention of offering any personal opinion.

She left everything entirely to Li Luo to handle.

Mainly because she didn't even know how many daughters-in-law she'd end up with…

If she picked poorly now, how much trouble would that cause later?

So she'd let this kid handle it himself.

She'd just relax, chat with Ying Chanxi and the others, play mahjong, and enjoy herself first.

With this mindset, she stopped thinking about villas at all.

If she could enjoy such peace in this life, what more could she want?

…

After dinner, the whole family gathered in the living room—some played mahjong, others played cards, and those drinking continued chatting and drinking.

The New Year atmosphere had always been excellent, and upon learning that Yuan Wanqing would also come here again tomorrow for the New Year, Chen Lu and Chen Sijia both became excited.

They couldn't help but eagerly brag and share the news with their best friends and girlfriends, even agreeing to help several people get autographs.

Late at night, Li Luo returned to the third floor, slightly drunk, took a quick shower, and prepared to write a bit before going to bed.

But as soon as he opened the door, he saw a large bulge in his bed.

Two petite figures were hidden beneath it.

Li Luo chuckled and shook his head, walking to the bed and patting someone's buttocks through the covers.

The next second, Yan Zhusheng's head popped out from under the covers: "Li Luo, why did you touch my butt?"

Before Li Luo could respond, Ying Chanxi's head also emerged, glaring at him: "Did you sneakily touch her?"

"I just patted once," Li Luo rolled his eyes, then complained, "Aren't you two supposed to sleep in the next room? It's only your first night back—can't you at least pretend a little?"

"Uncle Ying hasn't returned yet, and Grandpa Ying sleeps downstairs—no one will find out," Yan Zhusheng said seriously. "So today is the safest time."

"You've got a pretty sharp mind," Li Luo ruffled Yan Zhusheng's hair. "I still need to write—go ahead and sleep."

After briefly dealing with the two girls, Li Luo pulled out his laptop and wrote until past eleven at night, then climbed into bed and wrapped his arms around the two girls' fragrant bodies.

Then he fell into thought.

The bedroom bed in the countryside was much smaller than the master bed in Bihai Lanting.

The three of them were already barely squeezed together; one misstep and someone might roll off the bed.

If Xu Youyu's family comes on the first day of the New Year, and Youyu-jie sneaks over too, then the only option will be to hold the smallest one—Ying Chanxi—in his arms to sleep.

Sigh…

The plan to buy a villa still needs to be moved up on the agenda—this daily crowding isn't sustainable.

As Li Luo thought of these things, he held Ying Chanxi on his left and Yan Zhusheng on his right, finally falling into deep sleep.