Chapter 694: Go to the Balcony to Practice Shooting Angles

Because it was their first department dinner, He Hailu didn't choose a Sichuan-Chongqing hotpot restaurant.

After all, most hotpot restaurants have mostly four-person and six-person tables; if the first dinner had to split into four or five separate tables, it would be pointless.

So in the end, they chose a small restaurant on Ningshan Avenue—affordable, with private rooms; when the central screen was opened, the two tables could be joined together, just enough to fit all eighteen members of the External Relations Department.

He Hailu and Xu Youyu, as department head and deputy head, each took one table and led the conversation at their respective tables.

Li Luo naturally sat beside Xu Youyu, with Xu Yinghuan on the other side.

Originally, Zhang Jiale had wanted to sit next to Xu Yinghuan, but the seat was taken by senior student Zhu Caixing, so he ended up sitting beside this group leader.

"Chatting with Junge?" Li Luo asked casually as he saw Xu Yinghuan pull out her phone to chat on WeChat right after sitting down.

"Yeah," Xu Yinghuan nodded, speaking toward Li Luo, "He's asking what time we'll finish eating—he'll come pick me up afterward."

"It's only five-thirty now; probably won't end until around seven," Xu Youyu said.

"Got it~" Xu Yinghuan nodded and continued replying to Zhao Rongjun, "I'll tell him."

After replying, Xu Yinghuan turned back to Li Luo and whispered, "I heard Zhusheng joined the Arts Department—don't they have a department dinner today? Watch out, she might get hit on by some guy."

"I'm not too worried about Zhusheng…" Li Luo only had to imagine Yan Zhusheng's personality to picture how those flattering guys would get shut down.

Besides, with Cheng Jinyan with her, there was no real need to worry about Yan Zhusheng's situation.

But Ying Chanxi, after joining the Secretariat, he wasn't sure how her dinner was going.

Thinking of this, Li Luo simply pulled out his phone and sent messages to both Ying Chanxi and Yan Zhusheng.

"Someone's being naughty," Xu Youyu leaned close to Li Luo's ear, smiling softly, "What bad things are you doing behind your lovely, charming girlfriend's back? Sending private messages to another woman?"

"Can't I send a message to my two little sisters?"

"Hmph~" Xu Youyu glanced around at the others and didn't tease him further, "I'll spare your life for now."

Then she stood up and joined He Hailu to discuss the menu, asking everyone about dietary restrictions before starting to pick dishes.

Meanwhile, Li Luo was immediately busy after sending his messages.

……

【Li Luo】: How did the department meeting go?

【Ying Chanxi】: It went well. That senior I mentioned to you before is really nice and has been taking care of me.

【Ying Chanxi】: How about you?

【Li Luo】: We just arrived at the restaurant and started dinner. How about you?

【Ying Chanxi】: The meeting hasn't ended yet—we'll probably leave for dinner around five-thirty.

【Li Luo】: Got it. When you're done eating, should I come pick you up?

【Ying Chanxi】: Sure. I'll let you know when dinner's about to end?

【Li Luo】: Okay.

……

At the same time.

【Li Luo】: How did the department meeting go?

【Yan Zhusheng】: Finished. We're eating now.

【Li Luo】: Department dinner?

【Yan Zhusheng】: Mm-hmm.

【Li Luo】: Is it good?

【Yan Zhusheng】: Not as good as yours.

【Li Luo】: Is Cheng Jinyan beside you?

【Yan Zhusheng】: Yes.

【Li Luo】: Are you going home tonight?

【Yan Zhusheng】: Yes.

【Yan Zhusheng】: Want to sleep with you.

【Li Luo】: Is Cheng Jinyan peeking beside you?

【Yan Zhusheng】: Can't she?

【Li Luo】: …Tell her to move her head.

【Yan Zhusheng】: Okay.

【Li Luo】: When you finish eating, if I'm still not done here, just go back to the dorm and wait for me.

【Li Luo】: If I finish early, I'll drive straight to the restaurant to pick you up.

【Yan Zhusheng】: Okay~

After Li Luo finished chatting with the two girls, Xu Youyu returned to his side, having finished ordering.

"Done chatting?" Xu Youyu raised an eyebrow as she saw him put away his phone.

"Mm," Li Luo nodded lightly. "I'm going to pick them up and take them home."

"So you won't be staying in the dorm anymore?" Xu Youyu whispered.

"Not necessarily," Li Luo rubbed his chin, thinking for a moment. "Didn't you sometimes come home and sometimes not during your freshman year? We don't need to go home to sleep every single night."

"I think the same," Xu Youyu agreed, then whispered, "After all, if all four of us went home to sleep every day, some things wouldn't be convenient to do~"

"…Youyu-jie, I've noticed your desire in this area is stronger than mine?" Li Luo chuckled wryly. "You should work out more."

"I'm afraid you won't be able to handle it," Xu Youyu huffed. "You'll be the one begging for mercy."

"How do you know unless you try?"

"Hmph." Xu Youyu refused to discuss it further.

If she wanted to train hard, it'd be easier to make her write ten thousand words a day.

After finishing their small talk, Xu Youyu took up her duty as deputy director and began guiding the conversation at the table.

Not long after, the dishes gradually arrived, and as everyone ate and chatted, Li Luo quickly became familiar with all members of the External Relations Department.

To break the ice and ease the awkwardness of their first meeting, once most of the food had been eaten, He Hailu organized some small games.

The loser had to accept a penalty.

Once, Li Luo lost a game; due to his public figure status, others hesitated to suggest any interesting punishments.

Eventually, the slightly drunk Xu Youyu came up with a clever idea: she opened her phone, scrolled to a passage from the Night Watch of Great Qian, and shoved it in front of Li Luo to read aloud.

Li Luo hadn't expected Xu Youyu to be so ruthless—he gritted his teeth and finished reading the passage, while everyone around him struggled to suppress their laughter.

Xu Yinghuan couldn't hold it in and burst out laughing; instantly, the others broke down too, and the private room filled with cheerful energy.

"I think you're tired of living," Li Luo muttered, leaning close to Xu Youyu's ear after returning to his seat.

"What? Isn't this something you wrote yourself?" Xu Youyu, emboldened by alcohol, stuck out her tongue with a grin. "Hehe~ You wrote it, so reading it out loud is nothing."

"Heh." Li Luo gave a cold laugh and whispered again near her ear, "Young Sister Youyu, don't forget—you're a writer too."

At those words, Xu Youyu's body froze.

She'd had a little wine and gotten a bit carried away, nearly forgetting that fact.

Now reminded by Li Luo, Xu Youyu immediately put on a sweet, flattery-filled smile and leaned forward to toast him: "My lord, please overlook this petty offense of a humble woman."

"Heh. That depends on how sincere your penance is."

"Well…" Xu Youyu bit her lip, then leaned close to Li Luo's ear and whispered, "How about next time, on the balcony?"

Hearing that, Li Luo's heart gave a soft flutter.

Seeing his expression, Xu Youyu knew she had won—she immediately picked up his glass and smiled sweetly. "Then drink this juice, and we'll call it even."

They clinked glasses lightly, sealing their private agreement.

Li Luo now regretted having agreed to pick up Chanxi and Zhusheng after their meal.

But then he thought better of it—there was plenty of time ahead; he didn't need to rush through every trick. It was all Young Sister Youyu's fault—she was too good at tempting him.

As the meal progressed past its halfway point, Li Luo rose to go to the restroom and casually pulled out his phone to check if Chanxi and Zhusheng had sent any messages.

But as soon as he stepped out of the private room, he ran straight into a figure.

"Li Luo?"

Hearing someone call his name, Li Luo stopped, lowered his phone, and looked ahead—Lin Zhixia stared at him in surprise.

"Lin Zhixia?" Li Luo raised an eyebrow, equally startled. "Are you eating here too?"

"Yes," Lin Zhixia nodded, then glanced curiously at the private room behind him, noticing it was also a gathering. "Chanxi said you were at your college's External Relations Department dinner—but we're at the same place?"

"Uh… Chanxi's here too?" Li Luo was stunned.

"Yes," Lin Zhixia pointed to two other private rooms separated from theirs. "Our Zhu Academy's Secretariat is dining here too. Should I go call Chanxi?"

"Um…" Li Luo's mind raced, then he quickly replied, "I'll go to the restroom first, then we'll talk."

"Oh." Lin Zhixia didn't think twice, nodded, and walked past him back to her Secretariat's private room.

At that moment, Li Luo pulled out his phone and checked his WeChat messages.

【Yan Zhusheng】: We're done eating. I and Jinyan are heading back to the dorm. I'll wait for you there.

Li Luo replied "Okay," then immediately opened his chat with Ying Chanxi.

【Ying Chanxi】: We're about to head out for dinner.

【Ying Chanxi】: Senior said it's at Zhenwei Xiaoguan on Ningshan Avenue—you remember, right?

【Ying Chanxi】: Back in first year of high school, during National Day, you took me here to eat.

【Ying Chanxi】: What a coincidence.

【Ying Chanxi】: By the way, where are you guys having your dinner tonight?

Seeing Ying Chanxi's reminder, Li Luo suddenly recalled it.

It had been nearly three years—he might not have remembered at all if not for his Memory Palace.

Especially now, as he recalled, the restaurant's décor seemed quite different from three years ago—likely renovated in between.

Yet Ying Chanxi still recognized it.

【Li Luo】: I have one good news and one bad news. Which do you want to hear first?

After sending this message to Ying Chanxi, Li Luo put his phone away and went to the restroom.

When he came out, washed his hands, and dried them, he pulled out his phone again—Ying Chanxi had already replied.

【Ying Chanxi】: What's the good news?

【Li Luo】: I'm currently inside your restaurant.

【Ying Chanxi】: Huh?

【Ying Chanxi】: You've already come to pick me up?

【Li Luo】: That's where the bad news comes in.

【Ying Chanxi】: What bad news could there be?

【Li Luo】: Our External Relations Department dinner is also here—so Youyu is here too. You get what I mean, right?

【Ying Chanxi】: …

Ying Chanxi understood exactly what Li Luo meant.

Because over in the Literature College, everyone already knew Li Luo and Xu Youyu were a couple.

Meanwhile, in Zhu Academy, military training, dorms, and even teaching methods were separate from other colleges—so students rarely mixed with outsiders.

Thus, most people who knew Ying Chanxi had a boyfriend had no idea who exactly Li Luo was.

Let alone knew the gossip from the Literature College.

But now, the External Relations Department of the Literature College and the Secretariat of Zhu Academy had both chosen Zhenwei Xiaoguan for their dinners.

If the relationship between Li Luo, Xu Youyu, and Ying Chanxi were exposed, it would be a bit awkward.

【Ying Chanxi】: But it doesn't really matter, right? Our sides won't run into each other anyway.

【Li Luo】: Just now, when I went out to use the restroom, I ran into your roommate…

【Ying Chanxi】: Huh? Zhixia didn't tell me.

【Li Luo】: Maybe she wanted to give you a surprise.

【Ying Chanxi】: So what should we do now?

【Li Luo】: Should I go over and raise a glass to them?

【Ying Chanxi】: Better not… you don't know them, it's unnecessary.

【Ying Chanxi】: After you all finish eating, ask your senior to go home first, and wait for me, okay?

【Li Luo】: Then I'll drop Youyu off first, then drive back to pick you up.

【Ying Chanxi】: Mm, that works.

After chatting with Ying Chanxi, Li Luo put away his phone and returned to the private room.

Not long after, as the time approached seven in the evening, He Hailu saw that everyone had eaten enough and grown more familiar, so she stood up and clapped her hands: "Alright, let's call it a night here."

"Starting next week, the External Relations Department will begin having activities requiring your participation."

"I'll assign tasks to the second-year seniors and juniors; just follow your group leaders closely and work hard."

"If you have any questions, ask your group leader first."

After the announcement of dismissal, everyone gathered their belongings and followed the crowd out of Zhenwei Xiaoguan.

On the way downstairs, Zhang Jiale sidled up to Xu Yinghuan and tried to chat with her.

But just as they reached the first-floor entrance, Xu Yinghuan's eyes lit up, her pace quickened, and she ran toward the door: "Ah Jun~ You're here!"

Saying this, Xu Yinghuan threw herself into the arms of a tall, sturdy boy, then affectionately linked her arm through his.

Zhang Jiale stared at the scene in bewilderment, then heard Xu Yinghuan smile and introduce to the others: "This is my boyfriend—he's also a freshman, in the School of Computing."

After hearing Xu Yinghuan's words, Zhang Jiale fell silent.

So his fantasy of a college love story hadn't even begun, and it was already over?

At that moment, as Li Luo was smiling and greeting Zhao Rongjun, another familiar figure appeared beside them.

"Xiao Ya!" Song Yu walked up to Jiang Feiya with a bright smile and eagerly took her bag from her.

"Why are you here?" Jiang Feiya frowned.

"Didn't we agree to meet at the cinema tonight?" Song Yu said innocently, "I just came to pick you up on the way."

"I already said we'd meet at the cinema—why do you need to pick me up?" Jiang Feiya rolled her eyes, took the bag back, and hugged it to herself, "Did you buy the tickets?"

"I already bought them."

"Then let's go."

"Huh? Senior, are you guys going to the movie too?" Xu Yinghuan pulled Zhao Rongjun's hand and hurried after Jiang Feiya and Song Yu, "We're heading there too!"

"Really?" Jiang Feiya's tone toward Xu Yinghuan was quite warm—when they went to see Yuan Wanqing's concert, if not for meeting Xu Yinghuan, she might never have figured out Li Luo's true identity so quickly, "Then let's go together."

Watching Zhao Rongjun and the others leave, Li Luo turned to Xu Youyu: "Shall I drive you home first?"

"And then?"

"Then pick up Zhusheng at the Music College, and finally come back to get Xixi."

"You really are a busy man," Xu Youyu chuckled.

"Xixi and the others only got here around six, so they'll probably eat until past eight," Li Luo wrapped his arm around Xu Youyu's slender waist and walked toward the parking lot, whispering softly as he nipped at her ear, "I think we could go home first and test the shooting angle on the balcony."

"Mmm… that's not a bad idea."

(End of Chapter)