Chapter 664

Anyone who has typed out words knows that once you enter a closed-off state, sitting in front of the computer all day quickly plunges you into a dazed, foggy feeling.

Your mind holds nothing but plotting the story.

Eating, bathing, using the toilet, sleeping—all these daily activities run on instinct alone.

Once the author breaks free from this transcendent state and realizes there are games to play, videos to scroll through, how fun it is to chat in groups, how satisfying it is to go out for a big meal… that state is gone forever.

At that point, sitting back in front of the computer triggers an inexplicable resistance, a kind of mental nausea.

It takes a long time for this condition to gradually improve.

Even when Li Luo was writing ten thousand words a day before, he never experienced this.

Because he had the Memory Palace, even when he pushed hard, writing ten thousand words a day wasn't heavy for him.

But after entering the state of writing thirty thousand words a day—ten thousand in the morning, ten thousand in the afternoon, ten thousand at night—his time was entirely consumed by typing.

This did slightly pull him into that state of absorption.

So when August 24th arrived, Li Luo didn't even realize it was Yan Zhusheng's birthday.

The moment he opened his eyes in the morning, his mind automatically activated the Memory Palace, retrieving the outline, recalling what he needed to write that day, then planning his typing progress.

"Wait, isn't today Zhusheng's birthday?" Xu Youyu, unusually awake early, lay on her side with her head resting on Ying Chanxi's shoulder, leaning over to speak to the other three.

"Yeah, it's Zhusheng's birthday," Ying Chanxi nodded, then turned to Li Luo and gently suggested, "Why not take a day off today? You've been typing so hard—you deserve to relax a little."

For the past half-month, Ying Chanxi had genuinely worried about Li Luo.

After all, typing at such high intensity every day, sitting in front of the computer pounding keys—she truly feared his body would break down.

But Li Luo always insisted he was fine, so she couldn't press further; each day, she simply fulfilled her role as a little maid, carefully cooking for him, bringing him water, slicing fruit.

Yan Zhusheng helped too; the two had specifically researched healthier meal plans to better replenish energy and nutrition, crafting a daily diet regimen for Li Luo according to strict standards.

But if this continued, even if his body could handle it, they worried his mind couldn't.

Although Li Luo promised them that once Qian started school, he wouldn't type at this intensity anymore, if that time could come sooner, it would be better.

"Today's my birthday," Yan Zhusheng now climbed onto Li Luo, tugging at his neck, "Li Luo, take me out to play."

"Yes, take Zhusheng out," Ying Chanxi unusually agreed wholeheartedly, supporting her sister, "School starts the day after tomorrow—typing isn't urgent. Besides, didn't you already save enough drafts yesterday?"

"It's enough," Li Luo, pulled out of his trance by the three of them, felt slightly clearer; he hugged Yan Zhusheng and couldn't help yawning.

For the past half-month, he'd been writing thirty thousand words daily—that meant adding twenty-six thousand extra words each day.

So far, he still owed about two hundred thousand words.

Given his recent daily output of over thirty thousand words, plus the two hundred thousand words he'd already saved in advance…

If he released all his saved drafts today, he could clear all his arrears in one go.

Of course, it's better to handle this gradually.

Li Luo had originally planned to stick to thirty thousand words daily until the arrears were fully paid off.

But now, interrupted by Ying Chanxi and the others, his mind briefly cleared; lying in bed, he thought it over and nodded: "Fine, today I'll take Zhusheng out for her birthday—no typing."

There's no need to keep writing thirty thousand words daily anymore; he should slowly reduce the output, gradually lowering it to ten thousand or even less, giving readers time to adjust.

Meanwhile, he could introduce the first major climax of Volume Two's early stage, laying proper groundwork to ensure reader retention wouldn't suffer too much.

"But how do you want to celebrate your birthday?" Li Luo, having made up his mind, set typing aside for now and smiled, pinching Yan Zhusheng's cheek, "Not Monopoly again, right?"

"If you want to play, it's not impossible," Xu Youyu chuckled, "But today, let's skip it—you haven't gone out in ages; at least get some sun."

"Then…" Li Luo pondered, thinking of possible places to go.

"The amusement park?" Ying Chanxi suggested. "Has Zhusheng been to one since returning to China?"

"No," Yan Zhusheng shook her head. "Not even abroad—Mom couldn't ride those things."

With that reminder, Li Luo suddenly remembered—he clearly recalled that in his past life, when he first met Yan Zhusheng, just one year later, she was diagnosed with heart disease.

If he hadn't lived under the same roof with her back then—if he hadn't noticed she hadn't gotten up after breakfast, gone upstairs to check, and found her unresponsive—she might have died.

He rushed her to the hospital, where they discovered a heart attack.

Soon after, she went abroad for specialized heart treatment.

Though Yan Zhusheng was now healthy, capable of vigorous exercise—even won the high school badminton championship—Li Luo still felt a little worried.

But Yan Zhusheng had traveled abroad multiple times with Yuan Wanqing, and Li Luo had repeatedly urged her to get checked.

But Yan Zhusheng had previously accompanied Yuan Wanqing abroad multiple times, so Li Luo specifically reminded her to get checked as well.

Now, he had no reason to refuse.

Besides, Yan Zhusheng's eyes had already lit up.

"Then let's go to the amusement park, okay?" Yan Zhusheng tugged at Li Luo's neck, her chest rubbing against his, as if she could spark fire from the friction, "Xixi and Xuejie come too."

"I'll pass," Xu Youyu shook her head vigorously. "Amusement parks are exhausting—waiting in lines kills you. I can't handle it."

Seeing Xu Youyu decline, Ying Chanxi hesitated.

Thinking it was Yan Zhusheng's birthday, she weighed her options, then finally gritted her teeth: "I—I won't go either. Li Luo, you take Zhusheng and have fun. I'll stay home with Xuejie."

"Huh?" Xu Youyu gasped, then grinned, wrapping her arms around Ying Chanxi from behind. "When did you get so thoughtful, Xixi? Then let them go alone—you come with me for a stroll?"

"Where do you want to stroll?" Ying Chanxi asked, puzzled.

"There's a new bathhouse that just opened—they offer unlimited durian and cherries, and they have lots of hot spring types," Xu Youyu counted off on her fingers, "Plus spa massages—I've been so tired from typing, perfect chance to try it."

"How can you say you're tired from typing?" Li Luo laughed in disbelief.

"So what?" Xu Youyu rolled her eyes. "If you keep updating at this rate, I won't just be tired—I'll have burned myself into a stupa."

"Then I'll go with Xuejie," Ying Chanxi proposed. "Li Luo, you take Zhusheng to the amusement park for her birthday."

"Alright," Li Luo nodded, glancing at Yan Zhusheng's expectant face, and finally decided to take her.

He'd start with gentler rides first, to gauge her tolerance.

Li Luo suspected that in her past life, Yan Zhusheng's heart condition stemmed partly from genetics, partly from prolonged isolation and emotional depression.

According to Li Luo's speculation, Zhu Sheng's heart disease in her previous life was possibly due in part to familial heredity and in part to her long-term solitary living and suppressed emotions.

If I take good care of myself this life, maybe I won't trigger a heart attack.

As Li Luo was pondering these thoughts, Yan Zhusheng pulled him up from the bed.

Ying Chanxi had wanted to join them, but remembering she had personally agreed to let the two of them go to the amusement park, she felt a pang of jealousy and decided not to go jogging at all.

"Aren't you going for your morning run, Xixi?" Li Luo asked, returning to the bedside after washing up, now dressed in sportswear, and looking at Ying Chanxi still lying in bed asleep.

"I'm not running today—you two go ahead," Ying Chanxi said, buried under the covers beside Xu Youyu. "I want to sleep a little longer. Later, I'll go play with Senior Jin at the bathhouse."

"Hehe, then Xixi's all mine today," Xu Youyu laughed, pulling Ying Chanxi into her arms, then winking at Yan Zhusheng, who had just stepped out of the bathroom.

Yan Zhusheng received the signal from her ally, nodded happily, then took Li Luo's arm and walked out of the room.

After jogging downstairs, the two had breakfast together at the shop below, then brought back a portion for Xu Youyu and Ying Chanxi.

Afterwards, Yan Zhusheng took a shower, put on her white dress, and spun around in front of Li Luo.

"Do you still remember this dress?" Yan Zhusheng asked, holding the hem, looking at Li Luo with hopeful anticipation.

"Of course," Li Luo smiled, pulling her into his arms. "It's the dress I bought you for your first birthday."

"You said I looked beautiful in it," Yan Zhusheng added, nestled against him. "Today I'm wearing it."

"Of course you look beautiful," Li Luo said, releasing her and stepping back two steps to examine her carefully. "Did you wear tights?"

"Do I need to?" Yan Zhusheng tilted her head. "Isn't it easier without them?"

"Better wear them," Li Luo said.

If they were just at home, Li Luo wouldn't make her wear that.

But at the amusement park, the risk of exposure was too high—he didn't want other men seeing her.

In this regard, he was quite selfish.

So even when he originally picked out dresses for Yan Zhusheng, he always chose ones that covered most of her thighs, rarely buying her anything very short.

Of course, Xu Youyu had recently acquired quite a few extremely short ones—but clearly, she wouldn't wear them outside…

"All set," Yan Zhusheng returned to the bedroom, then ran out again a moment later, standing brightly before Li Luo.

Like a good child showing her backpack to her parent before leaving, she lifted her dress hem right in front of Li Luo and said, "I'm all dressed."

"You're dressed—you're dressed…" Li Luo sighed, quickly swatting her hand away to let the hem fall back down. "You don't have to show me."

"Oh," Yan Zhusheng blinked innocently. "I thought you liked looking at tights."

"I only told you to wear them so no one else would see."

"Li Luo is so stingy," Yan Zhusheng hugged him tightly, rubbing against his chest. "I love it."

Li Luo rubbed the clingy little kitten in his arms and smiled. "It's about time—we should head out."

"Mm," Yan Zhusheng nodded obediently, grabbed a sun-protective jacket before leaving, picked up her bag, and followed Li Luo out.

After sending a message to Ying Chanxi and Xu Youyu, who were still asleep, Li Luo went downstairs to his Audi A6, got in the driver's seat.

He then looked at Yan Zhusheng, who had settled into the passenger seat, leaned over, and fastened her seatbelt.

Too bad it wasn't Youyu-jie… Li Luo glanced regretfully at Yan Zhusheng's chest, easily cleared by the seatbelt, then sat upright and fastened his own.

"Let's go," Li Luo started the car, gripped the steering wheel, and slowly pulled out of the parking space.

Beside him, Yan Zhusheng raised both hands in perfect sync, her tone as usual: "Let's go~"

"By the way, today's your birthday—you're officially an adult now," Li Luo said casually as they drove out of the neighborhood. "When are you planning to take your driver's license test?"

"Can I skip it?" Yan Zhusheng blinked. "I'll just ride shotgun with you."

"Still, you should take it," Li Luo chuckled. "What if one day we go out alone, and I've had a drink? Then you'd have to drive."

"We can call a driver," Yan Zhusheng reminded him. "I'll just take care of you in the backseat."

Li Luo: "... You really are a little clever-clog."

Still, since Li Luo had said it, Yan Zhusheng finally nodded obediently. "I'll take the test after school starts."

"Then when you pass, I'll buy you a car."

"No," Yan Zhusheng shook her head. "I'll only drive your car."

She added, "Besides, Mom has a car too—she never uses it. If you like it, I'll ask her for it. You can use it whenever you want."

Li Luo: "..."

Listening to Yan Zhusheng, Li Luo felt utterly helpless.

After being reborn, he'd made a fortune—he should be spending it lavishly on his three beloved girls.

Instead, he couldn't even spend it—and they kept giving him money back.

Xu Youyu bought her car with her own royalties; now she was a top-tier author with twenty-thousand-credit earnings—she had no financial worries.

Ying Chanxi had accepted the car Li Luo bought her, but chose the cheapest Fit model—even fully loaded, it cost barely over a hundred thousand.

Yet in the end, she got an Audi A6 from her father—used, but still far more expensive than the Fit.

Between all this, Li Luo didn't lose—he actually gained.

And as for Yan Zhusheng—she didn't even want a car, all she could think of was wheedling one from her mom to give to Li Luo.

It was ridiculous—he was a multi-millionaire, yet felt like he was being kept by the three of them.

(End of Chapter)