Chapter 583: 221

After learning the truth about her relationship with another close friend, Ying Chanxi and Yan Zhusheng wore different expressions.

Yan Zhusheng was only slightly surprised, then quickly accepted this revelation.

Ying Chanxi, however, wore a look of utter shock, her mouth slightly agape, unable to recover for a long while, struggling to accept this fact.

Her mother had a younger brother who died very early on—Ying Chanxi was aware of this.

Because when she was young, her mother had taken her to visit her maternal grandfather's home, though her grandfather's family seemed unwelcoming.

So after only a few visits, her mother never took her back again.

Thus, Ying Chanxi had no strong impression of her uncle, whom she had never met.

Much less of her aunt.

Who could have imagined that just two months before turning eighteen, she would meet an aunt she had never heard of before?

Especially since this aunt turned out to be Yan Zhusheng's mother…

When she first learned this, Ying Chanxi's mind nearly shut down, struggling to process it.

So all this time, she and Yan Zhusheng had been arguing back and forth, yet they were actually cousins by blood?

Thinking of this, Ying Chanxi couldn't help turning to look at Li Luo beside her, noticing the faint smile he couldn't suppress—she immediately pouted and punched him.

"You knew all along, didn't you? Why didn't you tell me earlier?!" Ying Chanxi demanded angrily.

"I promised Uncle Ying I wouldn't say anything. A person must keep their word, right?" Li Luo caught her tiny fist, wrapping it in his palm, then added, "Besides, I think it's better if Uncle Ying tells you himself."

After all, if I told you, it wouldn't carry much weight—you'd still have to spend time explaining it away.

Now that the truth is out, Ying Chanxi and Yan Zhusheng both know their relationship—no one knows how they'll get along from now on.

After all, they're sisters.

Don't fight anymore.

Thinking this, Li Luo turned his gaze toward Ying Zhicheng and Yuan Wanqing.

Ying Zhicheng also looked at his daughter, then at Yan Zhusheng, and after a pause said, "So… Xixi, Zhusheng, what do you both think now? Say whatever you want."

"I have nothing to say," Yan Zhusheng shook her head, glancing at her good sister, then added, "If Mom has found someone she loves, I'll support her."

Hearing her daughter say such a thoughtful thing, Yuan Wanqing's face lit up with a warm, happy smile, and she instinctively gripped her daughter's hand.

But Yan Zhusheng then turned her head and quietly added, "But if I find someone I love, Mom must support me too."

She spoke so softly that only Yuan Wanqing heard.

This left Yuan Wanqing stunned. She looked at Yan Zhusheng, then unconsciously glanced at Li Luo sitting far away, falling silent.

Zhusheng's words… sounded strange…

Could it be she wants to compete with Xixi for Li Luo, hoping Mom will back her?

Yuan Wanqing stayed silent, unable to speak, feeling genuinely torn.

After all, Ying Chanxi was the daughter of Ying Zhicheng and Yan Ruqing—Yuan Wanqing hoped to treat her as her own daughter too.

She couldn't possibly favor her own biological daughter in matters of the heart.

But Yuan Wanqing had clearly misunderstood Yan Zhusheng's meaning.

On the other side, Ying Chanxi also remained silent for a while, pondering carefully before slowly speaking: "I… I don't really have any objections."

"If Dad can be with Aunt Yuan, I'm happy for him."

"As long as your feelings for each other are sincere, I naturally want to see Dad happier."

Ying Chanxi was, in truth, quite reasonable and considerate.

She had only struggled to accept that her father had kept such an important secret from her all this time.

Now, with Li Luo acting as the emotional glue, keeping Ying Chanxi's feelings stable, this matter naturally resolved itself.

After receiving Ying Chanxi's blessing, Ying Zhicheng and Yuan Wanqing exchanged glances, both seeing the relief in each other's eyes.

Then they smiled at each other, turned to their daughters, and extended their hands.

The family of four embraced tightly.

Watching this, Li Luo's previously tense heart finally settled completely.

…

That night, Li Luo returned to his own bedroom first, leaving the family of four in the living room on the second floor so they could continue sharing their thoughts.

After a shower, Li Luo resumed writing, refining his planned new novel.

During the New Year holiday, his editor Qianzhou still reached out to chat.

【Qianzhou】: The feature you asked about will likely launch in May this year, but I've got another piece of good news.

【Chongran】: What good news? Did my copyright sell?

【Qianzhou】: Not quite… the copyright team is still negotiating with iQiyi—no guarantee it'll sell.

【Chongran】: Then what's the good news?

【Qianzhou】: It's about that feature I mentioned.

【Qianzhou】: The tech team named it "Chapter Comments." It's scheduled for May, but they'll release an internal test version first.

【Qianzhou】: Then we'll select a group of top authors' new novels as pilot candidates to test the Chapter Comments feature early.

【Chongran】: So I've been chosen?

【Qianzhou】: It's not about being "chosen." At your level, if you want in, you're in—it just depends on how your new novel is coming along.

【Chongran】: I've already written a few chapters.

【Qianzhou】: Send them to me—and also send a copy to the chief editor. He said he wants to review it too.

【Chongran】: I can, but aren't you working during the New Year holiday?

【Qianzhou】: Even though the company gave me time off, any author at your level who contacts me is automatically on my work schedule.

【Chongran】: Haha, let's wait until after the New Year—it's not urgent right now.

【Qianzhou】: OK, I'll submit your new book for the Chapter Talk test first.

【Chongran】: No problem.

After chatting with Qianzhou, Li Luo began typing, continuing until past eleven at night, when he heard footsteps outside.

The next moment, his door slowly opened.

Yan Zhusheng's small head peeked in, confirmed Li Luo was alone, then slipped inside and immediately turned to shut the door.

Li Luo's expression turned puzzled. "Just you? Where's Chanxi?"

"Chanxi's still showering," Yan Zhusheng blinked. "I didn't wash my hair today, so I finished faster and came ahead."

As she spoke, Yan Zhusheng had already crawled into Li Luo's quilt, shivering from the chilly sheets until she warmed up, then her face relaxed.

Seeing Yan Zhusheng had already warmed his bed, Li Luo checked today's word count—it was nearly complete—so he shut off his computer, pulled back the quilt, and slipped in.

"Aren't you waiting for Chanxi?" Yan Zhusheng lay beneath him, cheeks flushed, arms tightly wrapped around his neck.

Though she asked why he wasn't waiting for Chanxi, as soon as she finished speaking, she puckered her lips high, eager to kiss Li Luo.

When Ying Chanxi finished her shower and arrived, she saw Yan Zhusheng already straddling Li Luo, kissing him passionately.

Hearing the door open, Yan Zhusheng sat up, turned to look at Ying Chanxi at the threshold, and said, "Sister, you're here?"

Ying Chanxi: "... Why didn't you wait for me after showering?"

"I came ahead to warm the quilt for you," Yan Zhusheng pulled back a corner of the quilt, gesturing to Ying Chanxi. "Come feel—it's so warm."

"So this is how you warm the bed?" Ying Chanxi muttered, walking to the bedside.

"Exercise generates heat," Yan Zhusheng said seriously. "You're the top student—you wouldn't not understand this, right?"

"Don't call me sister," Ying Chanxi said, exasperated.

"We're sisters—we're blood-related," Yan Zhusheng blinked, clearly fond of this sisterly bond, never missing a chance to say "sister."

But Ying Chanxi clearly hadn't adjusted to this new identity—she simply couldn't bring herself to say "sister" back.

Especially when she saw Li Luo lying there, unable to suppress a smirk, Ying Chanxi grew even angrier, climbed onto the bed, squatted at the headboard, and punched him.

"You're enjoying this now, aren't you? Hmph!"

"I'm not!" Li Luo protested. "Why'd you suddenly hit me?"

"You know why I hit you!"

Ying Chanxi angrily pulled back the quilt and crawled in, turning her back to them, silent.

Li Luo blinked, exchanged a glance with Yan Zhusheng, who obediently slid off him and lay down on the other side.

The next moment, Ying Chanxi felt herself tightly wrapped in a warm embrace.

"What are you doing?" Ying Chanxi spoke in protest, but her tone carried a petulant, cooing lilt—soft enough that a kiss would fix it.

Li Luo knew Chanxi too well—he firmly turned her to face him and immediately sealed her lips, silencing her.

After kissing the girl in his arms until she went limp and breathless, Li Luo released Ying Chanxi, watching her blush deeply as she leaned against him.

"You're terrible," Ying Chanxi buried her face in Li Luo's chest, lightly hitting his chest.

"Where am I terrible?"

"Isn't it because..." Ying Chanxi paused mid-sentence, then whispered, "When you found out about me and Zhusheng, you were already thrilled inside, weren't you?"

"I don't understand," Li Luo said sternly. "What are you talking about?"

"Stop pretending!" Ying Chanxi punched him twice, fuming. "Me and Zhusheng are sisters—and we've both... both... both been with you... You're just thrilled!"

"Is that so?" Yan Zhusheng peeked out from behind Li Luo, curious. "If me and Chanxi are sisters, does Li Luo get even happier?"

"Don't all men feel that way?" Ying Chanxi huffed. "What's it called again? Sisters together?"

"You're pretty knowledgeable," Li Luo couldn't help laughing, pinching her cute nose. "Even know 'sisters together.'"

"I'm not an idiot," Ying Chanxi bumped her head against his chest, grumbling. "Who'd have thought... it'd turn out like this... I was stunned at the time."

"Me too," Yan Zhusheng said beside her.

"You're not!" Ying Chanxi snapped. "I saw you accepted it right away."

"Being sisters with Chanxi makes me happy," Yan Zhusheng said seriously. "Sisters sharing good things—that's only natural, right?"

Hearing this, Ying Chanxi instantly turned wary, staring at Yan Zhusheng.

"Nothing," Yan Zhusheng shook her head. "You're just imagining things."

"Don't call me sister."

"Sister, sister."

"Stop it!" Ying Chanxi buried her head under the quilt, utterly overwhelmed by Yan Zhusheng's "sister" assault.

Li Luo, caught in the middle, watching the show, happily pulled both girls into his arms.

Left: sister. Right: sister.

One petite and soft, one tall and slender—each unique.

Ying Chanxi now leaned against Li Luo, cheeks flushed, lips slightly parted, breathing lightly.

"D-don't move anymore..."

Ying Chanxi whispered in his ear.

But Yan Zhusheng's ears were sharp—she clearly heard what Ying Chanxi said.

Curious, she propped herself up, peered over, and noticed Li Luo's hand seemed to be doing something beneath the quilt.

Seeing this, Yan Zhusheng narrowed her eyes—she'd uncovered a big secret.

"Li Luo."

"... Hm?"

"What are you doing?"

"W-what am I doing?" Li Luo froze, blinked at Yan Zhusheng, his face filled with confusion.

But Yan Zhusheng gave him no chance, yanking back the covers to find Li Luo's hand had somehow slipped inside Ying Chanxi's nightgown collar.

As the covers were pulled away, Li Luo immediately retracted his hand and coughed awkwardly.

Ying Chanxi let out a startled cry, then buried her blushing face into Li Luo's chest, too embarrassed to look at Yan Zhusheng.

"This…" Li Luo raised his left hand, awkward and guilty, trying to explain.

But Yan Zhusheng frowned and demanded: "Why do you touch Sister's and not mine?"

If Xu Youyu were here, she'd surely smile and say, "Because mine's bigger."

But Ying Chanxi only dared to sneak a peek—she wouldn't dare give Yan Zhusheng any lip.

So after the covers were pulled back over them,

Yan Zhusheng took Li Luo's right hand in hers, and silence fell.

"How is it?" Yan Zhusheng asked, her cheeks faintly flushed, eyes hopeful.

What could Li Luo possibly answer?

The lotus bud has just broken the surface—immense potential.

Even bundled together with Chanxi, she still couldn't match Youyu's one hand.

(End of Chapter)