Chapter 710: The Thoughtful Xi Xi

When she heard Xu Youyu's surprised exclamation, He Hailu turned curiously toward the front passenger seat and realized someone was already sitting there.

He Hailu had been walking slowly; she had just reached Xu Youyu's side when she saw her already opening the car door.

In the front passenger seat sat an extremely beautiful girl, especially her refined profile—even as a girl, He Hailu felt utterly stunned.

But…

Why did this girl look so familiar?

What had Xu Youyu just called her?

Zhusheng?

He Hailu blinked, momentarily unable to place her, yet certain she had seen her somewhere before.

Then it struck her—this was Li Luo's car, yet when Xu Youyu, his official girlfriend, was about to sit in the front passenger seat, another stunningly beautiful girl was already there.

Will they fight later?

He Hailu grew concerned and glanced at Li Luo.

But Li Luo didn't look the least bit guilty—he walked over calmly and naturally.

"She said she wanted to go home tonight, so I gave her a ride," Li Luo said from behind Xu Youyu.

"Then why didn't you drop her off first?" Xu Youyu asked in confusion. "Why leave her waiting in the car?"

"I chose to wait," Yan Zhusheng said at that moment. "Senior, would you like the front seat? I'll move to the back."

Saying this, Yan Zhusheng moved to get out of the car.

But Xu Youyu reached out and pressed her firmly back into the front passenger seat.

"Don't be so formal with me—just stay there," Xu Youyu said, then opened the rear door. "I'll sit in the back with my department head. Senior, please go ahead."

"Oh, okay," He Hailu said, relieved to see the three of them getting along so well, and hobbled quickly into the back seat.

After closing He Hailu's door, Xu Youyu and Li Luo walked around to the other side to open their doors and get in.

Now He Hailu stared curiously around the car, occasionally glancing toward the front passenger seat.

Unfortunately, her seat was directly behind it, so she could only see Yan Zhusheng's long hair spilling to either side.

Even if she sneaked sideways glances, all she could make out was Yan Zhusheng's profile from behind—barely half a face—completely unrecognizable.

Yet Xu Youyu had no intention of hiding anything from He Hailu.

As Li Luo started the car and drove out of the underground parking lot toward Qingxi Dormitory, Xu Youyu turned to He Hailu beside her and said, "The girl in front of you is Yan Zhusheng—you're probably quite familiar with her, Senior He?"

"Yan… Zhusheng…" He Hailu froze at the name, then instantly recognized it and burst out in surprise, "You mean *that* Yan Zhusheng?"

"Yes," Xu Youyu chuckled, covering her mouth. "The one who sang 'Under the Sea.' Didn't you love that song recently?"

"No way!" He Hailu erupted in excitement, leaning forward and gripping the back of the front seat to get another look at Yan Zhusheng's profile.

Just then, Yan Zhusheng turned her head and greeted He Hailu: "Hello, Senior He."

"Hello hello!" He Hailu abandoned her usual serious department-head expression, beaming. "Oh my gosh, it's really you! I thought you looked familiar when I saw you outside the car, but I just couldn't place it."

"Didn't you know Li Luo is Chongran?" Xu Youyu laughed. "Zhusheng's songs are all written by Li Luo—it's normal they know each other. Besides, Zhusheng studies at the Music Academy across the river."

"Really?" He Hailu was surprised. "She's at our school?"

"She's in the same year as Li Luo—didn't you know that?" Xu Youyu countered. "Her mom mentioned it on Weibo before."

"How was I supposed to know…" He Hailu looked exasperated. "I hardly ever use Weibo, and I don't pay attention to these things."

She usually just listened to music; recently, she'd heard "Under the Sea" in *Little Joy* and fallen in love with it, playing it occasionally since the semester started.

When she found out Xu Youyu and Chongran were dating, she'd been surprised—but hadn't thought much of it.

Ordinary people who don't follow entertainment news rarely connect a celebrity's real identity to someone they see in person, even if they look strikingly similar.

Plus, she'd only seen Yan Zhusheng's profile before, so He Hailu simply couldn't have imagined it.

In fact, for many people, unless they're hardcore fans, even if they adore a particular actor, they might only remember the character's name—not the actor's real one.

With singers, many people love a single song and listen to it daily, but if you ask them who sings it, unless the singer is extremely famous, they often can't answer.

A song going viral while the singer remains obscure is standard in the music industry.

Or rather, this is common across creative and artistic circles.

Even someone as well-known in the Online Novel world as Li Luo—many readers may have read his books without knowing his pen name, Chongran.

Some readers who read *I Am Really Not a Star* and later *Night Watch of Great Qian* might never realize they were written by the same author unless someone told them.

And forget connecting those two books to the original author of *Little Joy*.

He Hailu only learned Li Luo was the lyricist and composer of "Under the Sea" after he joined her department and she looked into his background.

And the singer of "Under the Sea," Yan Zhusheng, was Yuan Wanqing's daughter.

Then she searched and found another version of "Under the Sea" that Yuan Wanqing had sung at a concert—and immediately fell in love with it.

"But I still prefer Zhusheng's version of 'Under the Sea,'" He Hailu said, gripping the front seat. "Your mom's version is so soothing—it's stunning when you hear it suddenly—but I keep listening to yours."

"Scattered moonlight~pierces through the clouds~" Yan Zhusheng sang a line on the spot, hearing He Hailu's praise.

The moment He Hailu heard the lyrics, she shivered: "No way! So beautiful! Her voice sounds even better live than through my phone!"

Yan Zhusheng blinked and continued singing.

Unfortunately, the ride back to the dorm was short; Yan Zhusheng had barely reached the first chorus when Li Luo pulled up to He Hailu's dorm building.

But no one interrupted Yan Zhusheng—until she finished half the song, the lingering melody still echoing in the cabin, then Li Luo said to He Hailu: "Senior He, we're at your dorm."

"Oh… oh okay!" He Hailu snapped back to reality, hurriedly responding, then couldn't help exclaiming to Yan Zhusheng, "You sang so beautifully! Thank you so much!"

"You're welcome," Yan Zhusheng nodded lightly, accepting the compliment with evident delight, then got out of the car to open He Hailu's door.

"Thank you, thank you!" He Hailu hurriedly thanked her, stepped down carefully, and waved to the three in the car as she hobbled away. "I'm off now—thank you for bringing me back."

"Senior He, be careful," Xu Youyu called after her. "Shall I help you up?"

"No, no, I'm fine!" He Hailu waved her off, insisting she could manage.

Only after watching He Hailu disappear into the dorm entrance did Xu Youyu return to the car.

"Aren't you going back to the dorm too?" Li Luo turned to ask.

"What?" Xu Youyu raised an eyebrow. "Want some alone time with Zhusheng?"

"Mm!"

Before Li Luo in the driver's seat could speak, Yan Zhusheng in the front passenger seat nodded earnestly at her.

Xu Youyu looked at Yan Zhusheng with a amused expression. "You're a bit too direct."

"We could all go together," Yan Zhusheng added. "I don't mind."

Hearing this, Xu Youyu's eye twitched, and Li Luo in the front felt her heart skip a beat—she secretly felt a flicker of anticipation.

Unfortunately, Xu Youyu waved her hand. "No way I'm letting him off that easy. I'll head back to the dorm. You two go ahead."

Saying that, Xu Youyu reopened the car door and prepared to leave.

Yan Zhusheng nodded. "Senior, you're the best. Next time I'll let you join."

Watching Xu Youyu walk toward the dorm building, Li Luo sighed softly.

Yan Zhusheng noticed Li Luo's expression and asked, "Li Luo, are you disappointed?"

"Cough… No such thing."

Li Luo straightened his face, immediately started the car, and drove Yan Zhusheng toward Bihai Lanting. "After we get home, I still have to write. You can go take a shower first."

"Okay," Yan Zhusheng nodded obediently. "I need to practice piano too."

"Fine," Li Luo nodded. "Buy some fruit—the ones at home are all gone."

"I want bananas," Yan Zhusheng said. "Do you want cherries?"

Li Luo: "... Where did you learn this from?"

Yan Zhusheng blinked. "Senior wrote about it before."

Well then… your learning spirit is truly worth encouraging and praising.

…

After driving back to Bihai Lanting, Li Luo brought Yan Zhusheng to the door of apartment 1502, pulled out the key, and opened the door.

The house was pitch black.

After turning on the living room light, everything instantly brightened.

Yan Zhusheng hummed a tune, slipped on slippers, and carried the newly bought fruit into the kitchen.

"I'll wash the fruit for you," Yan Zhusheng called out. "You go write first."

"Alright," Li Luo nodded, changed into slippers, walked back to the master bedroom, sat down at the computer, opened his writing software—and immediately received a WeChat message from Ying Chanxi.

【Ying Chanxi】: What are you doing?

【Li Luo】: Just about to start writing.

【Ying Chanxi】: The Hundred Clubs Battle starts tomorrow afternoon. Any ideas?

【Li Luo】: Zhusheng wants to join the badminton club, so I'll sign up with her. I don't have anything specific in mind myself. What about you?

【Ying Chanxi】: I haven't decided yet, but I have a few ideas.

【Li Luo】: For example?

【Ying Chanxi】: I'll send you some pictures.

Saying that, Ying Chanxi sent a series of photos—all newly released club recruitment brochures.

Each page listed a club, including its name, function description, and regular activities.

Li Luo opened the images, glanced at them, then immediately raised an eyebrow.

【Future Entrepreneurs Club】

【KAB Entrepreneurship Club】

【Marketing Association】

【Quantitative Investment Association】

【Finance Association】

What the hell is all this?

【Li Luo】: Why are you looking at all these things?

【Ying Chanxi】: I'm in Zhu Academy—I plan to enter the Social Sciences Experimental Class, leaning toward business administration and economics.

【Ying Chanxi】: I'll also minor in some digital media and intellectual property law electives.

【Ying Chanxi】: Your writing is getting better and better; future copyright development will definitely need Chongran Culture as its foundation.

【Ying Chanxi】: Even the songs you wrote before—though most of the main usage rights were sold, some can still be reused.

【Ying Chanxi】: Many clubs at Qian University partner with competitions and even connect students with excellent professors.

【Ying Chanxi】: I want to make full use of these clubs to also build my own skills.

【Ying Chanxi】: If I just spend four years learning theory and nothing else, even if you handed me your company after graduation, I wouldn't dare run it.

After reading Ying Chanxi's message, Li Luo fell silent.

He hadn't expected that the half-joking things he'd once told her were taken seriously—and that she was actively working toward them.

In truth, Chongran Culture was now nothing more than an empty shell, since all its operations were essentially Li Luo's personal business.

But if Ying Chanxi's plans were followed—copyright development and all that—it would no longer be just an empty shell. It would require a real, functioning company.

In Li Luo's mind, this was something only the tiniest elite group of Online Novel authors ever did.

Tang San and Potato were the most typical examples.

Especially the former—later in life, he had completely transformed from an Online Novel author into a capitalist, earning money far beyond the confines of Online Novels.

As for the latter, though his subscription numbers on Qidian's main site still lagged behind Li Luo's current ones, he had recently ended his Platinum contract with Yuewen Group and chose not to renew.

Instead, he founded his own independent studio, and his new novel, Yuan Zun, was released directly across all platforms, later achieving a staggering tens of thousands of subscriptions upon official release.

Many online novel authors have left the Wenxue Group, but only a handful ever achieve financial freedom.

The rest either languish on other websites or slink back to Qidian.

To escape the three realms and transcend the five elements is an immensely difficult thing.

Restricted by his past life's knowledge, Li Luo, after his rebirth, only wanted to live a quiet, peaceful life—and he felt this current state was good enough.

But Ying Chanxi seemed to have other ideas.

【Li Luo】: Won't this be too tiring? You don't have to push yourself so hard.

【Ying Chanxi】: It's not tiring—I'm actually very happy.

【Ying Chanxi】: I just love taking care of these things for you, which is why I made these choices.

【Ying Chanxi】: Eventually, I'll need to find something of my own to do. Senior can write online novels like you, Zhusheng can sing the songs you wrote, so I'll handle logistics for both of you.

【Ying Chanxi】: Anyway, I've already decided everything.

【Ying Chanxi】: Are you free tomorrow afternoon? Come with me to visit these clubs.

Li Luo pressed his lips together, slightly moved inside.

【Li Luo】: Okay, I'll go with you tomorrow afternoon.

【Ying Chanxi】: Then it's settled~ Go write your chapter now~

After chatting with Ying Chanxi, Li Luo put down his phone and heard the sound of Yan Zhusheng opening the door behind him.

Yan Zhusheng placed a fruit platter on the table and poured Li Luo a glass of water.

Then Li Luo watched as she crawled under the desk.

"What… what are you doing?" Li Luo grabbed her in disbelief. "Didn't we say you were going to practice piano?"

"It won't take long," Yan Zhusheng said innocently as he pulled her up.

"What do you mean? I think it takes quite a while."

"Not as long as my piano practice."

Yan Zhusheng always practiced piano for at least an hour—so Li Luo indeed didn't have that long…

Still, Li Luo's face darkened, and he quickly pushed Yan Zhusheng out of the room: "Go practice piano first. I'll write first, then we'll talk after I'm done."

"Oh." Yan Zhusheng looked disappointed but obediently headed to the piano room.

(End of Chapter)