Chapter 775

Another weekend vanished in the blink of an eye.

After the modern and contemporary literature class ended on Monday morning, Xu Rongsheng called Li Luo aside, found a quiet corner, and handed him a stack of documents.

"The project has been approved for you; here are the related documents. Keep them safe and don't lose them."

"The school has been paying close attention to this smart campus project lately, so the funding is substantial."

"But you must do it well—especially something involving money; no mistakes can be allowed."

"How much is it?" Li Luo flipped through the documents curiously and quickly found the answer: "Fifty thousand? That's quite a bit."

"This money isn't given to you all at once," Xu Rongsheng said. "It's divided into three phases: twenty thousand initially, another twenty thousand once the software prototype is complete, and the final ten thousand after the software passes testing."

To Li Luo, this amount meant nothing—perhaps just two or three days' worth of his pure subscription royalties.

But for Zhao Rongjun and his team, it was no small sum.

"The school is pretty generous."

"What are you thinking?" Xu Rongsheng chuckled. "If you outsourced this software to professionals, it'd cost at least a hundred to two hundred thousand."

"If our own students can build it, what's fifty thousand? I'd say it's even too little."

"But it's mutually beneficial—the computer science students gain practical experience, which is a great opportunity for their growth."

"True," Li Luo nodded, then remembered another question and asked, "Uncle Xu, once this project is approved under the smart campus initiative, can we still enter it into innovation and entrepreneurship competitions?"

"You're thinking of killing two birds with one stone?" Xu Rongsheng glanced at him.

"I'm just asking."

"Technically, no one has forbidden it," Xu Rongsheng whispered. "As long as no one says no, it's allowed. You get my meaning?"

If it were someone else, Xu Rongsheng would've stopped at the first sentence—but with Li Luo, he added two more.

Li Luo immediately grinned and nodded: "Got it, got it. Thanks a lot, Uncle Xu."

"This semester, Da Qian is hosting the Dandelion Entrepreneurship Competition," Xu Rongsheng added. "You should check it out."

"OK," Li Luo acknowledged, then changed the subject: "How's the progress on the financial aid for underprivileged students, Uncle Xu?"

"It's basically approved," Xu Rongsheng said with a smile. "Two meetings are needed for final confirmation, but the first one's already passed—the second is just a formality."

"It should be approved by December."

"But it won't be ready this semester—the fund won't be officially established or operational until next semester."

"When it is, we'll need some professors to manage it. Look…."

"You handle that, Uncle Xu," Li Luo smoothly replied. "I don't know any professors—you've been in the College of Literature for years; you know who's trustworthy better than I do."

"Alright," Xu Rongsheng smiled with satisfaction. "I'll arrange it then."

"Cough… if there's a decent position, Uncle Xu, remember to consider my aunt," Li Luo hesitated, then added quietly.

"Your aunt?"

"Jian Chun."

"Oh oh," Xu Rongsheng realized, chuckling and nodding. "Got it, got it. Don't worry—I'll take care of it."

After speaking with Xu Rongsheng, Li Luo took his leave, carrying the documents to Zhu Institute to find Zhao Rongjun and hand them over.

After briefly explaining the situation, Li Luo asked: "How's your team coming along?"

"Uh… I've recruited two third-year students and one fourth-year senior," Zhao Rongjun scratched his head. "Should be enough."

"Really?" Li Luo was surprised, sizing Zhao Rongjun up. "Didn't know you had such good connections—got third- and fourth-years this fast?"

"Uh…" Zhao Rongjun blushed at Li Luo's remark and whispered, "Xinyan helped me find them."

"She and Chanxi both joined the Secretariat of Zhu Institute's Student Union—they know a lot of people."

"Huanhuan asked her to help, and she found a few seniors interested in the project."

Li Luo: "..."

Hearing this, Li Luo fell silent, feeling a faint pang of pity for Qiao Xinyan.

But since the team was already assembled, Li Luo said: "Make sure Huanhuan joins the team—have her manage the funds, you handle the planning, and leave the actual software development to the seniors."

"This is a great chance to develop yourself—don't miss it."

"The total project funding is fifty thousand yuan, disbursed in three installments—details are in the documents."

"Huh?! F-fifty thousand?!" Zhao Rongjun's head spun—he was stunned. "Why so much?"

"That's a lot?" Li Luo glanced at him, patting his friend's shoulder. "Calm down—once your TikTok account takes off, fifty thousand will be peanuts. Don't act so shocked."

"Fifty thousand is a lot!" Zhao Rongjun whispered. "It's more than my dad earns in a few months."

"Don't you think about how many people are splitting this?" Li Luo rolled his eyes. "It'll take months to develop and launch this software—divide the funds evenly, and each person gets next to nothing."

"That's true," Zhao Rongjun scratched his head, his mood calming slightly.

Li Luo added: "Remember to sign up for the Dandelion Entrepreneurship Competition—if you place, you'll get a good prize."

"That's allowed?"

"Don't worry—just go for it," Li Luo encouraged. "Technically, this project is still under my name—don't embarrass me."

"Got it! I'll work hard!"

…

Zhao Rongjun's software development team began operating smoothly.

Recently, Ying Chanxi had inquired about rental prices for office spaces in Tianjie.

Finding the rates reasonable, she discussed it with Li Luo and rented a roughly fifty-square-meter area on the east side of the tenth floor.

But since Chongran Culture had few staff members, the space was temporarily lent to Zhao Rongjun and his team.

Ying Chanxi reserved a desk for herself and Xiao Wen, arranged a few computers, and let Zhao Rongjun's team figure out the rest.

When Friday afternoon arrived, Li Luo got into Xu Youyu's BMW and headed toward the Network Writers Association in Yuhang City.

"So why not let Chanxi drive you?" Xu Youyu asked, yawning at a red light. "It's the same direction—wouldn't that be convenient?"

"Huayue Film and Television and the Municipal Writers Association aren't in the same district; it'd be too much trouble to have her drop it off." Li Luo reclined comfortably in the passenger seat, speaking casually, "Don't you want to spend a little more time with me, Youyu?"

"I do want to, but I don't like being around other people when I'm with you," Xu Youyu chuckled. "I'd rather we just stayed in bed together."

"You can only say that now," Li Luo smirked. "Once we're actually in bed, you'll be screaming for help in under half an hour."

"Hmph, you dog man," Xu Youyu huffed. "In two days, I'm flying to Jingzhao City with Chanxi and Zhusheng to have fun, and now you're dissing me?"

"Jealous?"

"Not at all," Xu Youyu said. "When the three of you are gone, the house is mine."

"When did you learn Chanxi's stubbornness?" Li Luo raised an eyebrow.

"Don't compare me to Chanxi, okay? I'm nowhere near her level," Xu Youyu rolled her eyes at him. "It's just that some things aren't worth saying. Do you really think you can spend these two days only with me?"

"It's not impossible," Li Luo smiled. "The Writers Association isn't far from Xihu. After the afternoon meeting ends, how about we go over there for a stroll?"

"That's only a little time," Xu Youyu pouted. "But better than nothing."

"Our flight is Sunday afternoon, the day after tomorrow," Li Luo said, arms folded behind his head as he leaned back. "If you're willing, I'll rent a small house by Xihu and stay with you until Sunday before we head back."

"Watch out—Chanxi might come chasing after you," Xu Youyu grinned. "Zhusheng will probably run over too. Then you might as well just go home."

At these words, Li Luo fell silent for a moment, then pulled out his phone and called Ying Chanxi directly.

The call connected quickly; Ying Chanxi's puzzled voice came through: "What's up? Aren't you with Senior Xu going to the meeting?"

? ￠o

"Yeah, still on the road," Li Luo said. "I wanted to talk to you—we're flying to Jingzhao City the day after tomorrow, right? Youyu isn't going, so I thought I'd spend these two days with her around Xihu, and come back Sunday."

Hearing this, Ying Chanxi fell silent on the other end.

Then she asked: "You're not coming home tonight?"

"Mm."

"For two days?"

"Two days."

"What about Zhusheng?"

"Let her stay home with you," Li Luo said. "I'll come back Sunday, and we'll go to the airport together."

Ying Chanxi fell silent again, then finally said: "I understand. Be careful, okay? I've got to get back to work."

After receiving Ying Chanxi's approval, Li Luo called Yan Zhusheng and explained everything.

Yan Zhusheng replied on the other end: "Is Senior Xu next to you?"

"She's driving."

"Turn on speakerphone."

"…Okay."

"Senior Xu."

"Huh?" Xu Youyu, driving, heard Yan Zhusheng's voice and asked, "What is it?"

"Don't exhaust Li Luo," Yan Zhusheng said seriously. "If you come up with any new moves, you have to tell me."

Before Xu Youyu could react, Li Luo's face darkened: "What the hell are you talking about? Do you two secretly exchange techniques behind my back?"

"Cough, cough…" Xu Youyu blushed slightly and cleared her throat. "Zhusheng, don't say nonsense—we're just sharing normal experience."

"That sounds anything but normal," Li Luo muttered in disbelief.

"Oh, you talk too much," Xu Youyu rolled her eyes, then turned to the phone. "Zhusheng, don't worry—I'll tell you everything."

"Good," Yan Zhusheng nodded. "I'll keep an eye on Senior Xu and won't let her bother you. Bye."

After hanging up, Li Luo exhaled deeply.

After thinking it over, he still felt that meeting these three girls in both his lives was his greatest fortune.

At that moment, Xu Youyu's gaze softened, her lips slightly pursed. She turned the steering wheel and pulled the car over to the roadside parking spot.

Li Luo glanced around, puzzled. "We haven't reached… uh!"

Before he could finish, Xu Youyu lunged onto him, pinning him in the passenger seat and pressing her lips hard against his.

After a long, intense kiss in the car, they finally pulled apart.

Xu Youyu straddled Li Luo, her eyes glistening with desire as she gazed at him.

"Why so sudden?" Li Luo, holding her slender waist, laughed.

"Sudden? I don't think so," Xu Youyu lay against his chest, her cheek resting against his heartbeat, then whispered softly, "Li Luo, I love you for this."

"Hm?"

"Even if you didn't spend these two days with me, I wouldn't be upset."

"I know."

"But you still told Chanxi and Zhusheng you wanted to be alone with me," Xu Youyu lifted her face, looking at him seriously. "Aren't you afraid Chanxi and Zhusheng will be angry?"

"They're just like you—wonderful girls," Li Luo pinched her cheek gently. "Just like you knew I'd be going to Jingzhao with Chanxi and Zhusheng and didn't get mad, they won't either."

"Then you're getting off way too easy," Xu Youyu teased again with a grin.

"Yeah, I've gotten the better end of the deal," Li Luo pulled her tightly, but only pressed a light kiss to her forehead. "That's why I need to cherish it even more."

"Good to know," Xu Youyu felt the warmth on her brow, then couldn't resist leaning up to kiss him again before happily climbing back into the driver's seat. "Come on, come on—we'll be late!"

"Let's be late," Li Luo shrugged, propping his chin on his hand. "Right now, I just want to sneak off with Youyu. The Writers Association council? The vice-chairmanship? I don't care anymore."

"You say that," Xu Youyu rolled her eyes. "Others would kill to have that position."

"If you work hard, Youyu, you could have it too."

"No way—I don't want it. Too much trouble," Xu Youyu shook her head. "I didn't even join the Provincial Writers Association. I don't care about any of it."

"Should I open a backdoor for you later?" Li Luo raised an eyebrow. "A vice-chair of the Writers Association has that kind of pull, right?"

Xu Youyu glanced sideways at him, her eyes sultry, lips curling slightly: "Someone's got dirty thoughts—what kind of mischief are you imagining?"

"... Isn't it just that you, Youyu, have a dirty mind?"

"I'm just driving," Xu Youyu hummed a tune, pressing the accelerator and gripping the steering wheel.