Chapter 786

At exactly eight p. m., the plane landed smoothly on the runway at Yuhang City Airport.

The jolt upon landing woke Ying Chanxi from sleep; she blinked drowsily, glanced beside her, and realized the person who had been sitting next to her—Yan Zhusheng—had been replaced.

This instantly jolted her awake; she opened her eyes wide and saw it was Li Luo.

Her face immediately lit up with delight.

"Why did you move over here? When did you come?"

"Somewhere halfway through the flight," Li Luo recalled briefly, then said, "I saw you were sleeping, so I didn't wake you."

"You could've just shaken me awake," Ying Chanxi complained. "I only slept because I had nothing to do—why didn't you tell me you'd moved over?"

"Probably because someone looks too cute when she sleeps," Li Luo said, pinching Ying Chanxi's soft cheek with a chuckle. "I couldn't bear to wake you."

"Hmph." Ying Chanxi was easily placated; her lips couldn't help but curl upward.

After the plane came to a stop, Li Luo and the others gathered their luggage and were among the first to disembark; after collecting their suitcases from the carousel, they headed to the parking lot.

Butler Liu was already waiting there with Li Luo's Audi A6, and Yin Zhicheng had also driven over specifically to pick up Yuan Wanqing.

Seeing his daughter approach and greet him, then without hesitation turn and climb into the Audi A6 he himself had given her, Yin Zhicheng clenched the steering wheel silently, letting out a cold snort inside.

Yuan Wanqing placed the suitcase in the trunk, slid into the front passenger seat, turned to look at Yin Zhicheng, and saw his gaze fixed intensely on the car beside them—she couldn't help but laugh.

"Jealous?" Yuan Wanqing asked.

"Am I that childish?"

"Someone's probably feeling sour inside."

"Don't you feel the same?" Yin Zhicheng retorted. "Isn't Zhusheng in that car too?"

"A father and a mother might feel it differently," Yuan Wanqing said calmly, leaning back in her seat. "On the plane today, I already talked to Li Luo."

"What did you talk about?"

"About the three of them."

"What did he say?"

"He said he won't let down Xixi or Zhusheng."

"... How can he even say something like that?" Yin Zhicheng gritted his teeth; the image made his fists itch, and he barely held back his composure as a CEO.

"At least it's better than no promise at all."

"Do you really believe a man's empty words?"

"But when we got married, you swore you'd love me forever," Yuan Wanqing said, turning to smile at him.

"... That's not the same thing!"

"Alright, alright, stop brooding over this," Yuan Wanqing sighed. "It's done. Relax. Aren't Li Luo's family and yours longtime friends? What's there to worry about?"

"He gets all the advantages," Yin Zhicheng clicked his tongue. "Now I finally realize—we've been working our asses off, like we're just his employees."

"Isn't that exactly what's happening?" Yuan Wanqing laughed. "Next year, when my contract ends, my studio will be directly affiliated with Chongran Culture."

"That's still half a year away," Yin Zhicheng said, pulling a cigarette from his pocket and putting it between his lips; catching Yuan Wanqing's glare, he added, "Just sniffing. Not smoking."

After a pause, he continued: "Li Luo said his 'Great Patrol of the Night Corps' will finish serialization next spring."

"The film and TV rights will likely be acquired by Tencent Video, jointly developed with Wenxue Group."

"If Li Luo can get involved and help Huayue Film and Television hitch a ride, we might be able to maneuver company shares."

"If Chongran Culture also takes equity in Huayue Film and Television, then when your studio signs under his company, there won't be many issues."

"Even if my contract expires, what's the problem with signing with another company?" Yuan Wanqing frowned.

"Huayue Film and Television has first refusal rights," Yin Zhicheng reminded her, glancing at her. "Of course, as long as Chongran Culture offers a higher bid."

"Since it's all family, it'll just be a bit of back-and-forth—have Li Luo offer a contract price Huayue can't afford, and they'll naturally let go."

"Like a 90-10 revenue split, a signing bonus of a hundred million—easy to scare someone off."

Hearing this, Yuan Wanqing covered her mouth and giggled: "That could work."

The contract is signed; as long as Yuan Wanqing doesn't sue Li Luo, whether it's actually fulfilled doesn't matter.

"Next year, get this kid to sign a sky-high contract—we'll say we don't intend to enforce it," Yin Zhicheng snorted. "But if he dares to mistreat our daughter, we'll have plenty to say then."

"That's so mean," Yuan Wanqing sighed. "Still thinking of finding his weak spot?"

"If he treats Xixi and Zhusheng well, then naturally there won't be any problems," Yin Zhicheng said, smirking. "Then we'll be one family—no matter how outrageous the contract terms are, it won't matter."

"Enough of this," Yuan Wanqing waved her hand. "Next year is still far off. Let's go home—they've already left."

…

Butler Liu drove Li Luo and the other two all the way to Bihai Lanting.

After getting out of the car, Li Luo and the others dragged their suitcases up to the 1502 apartment by elevator and began unpacking.

Li Luo didn't need to do much—most of the work fell to Ying Chanxi.

Xu Youyu, who was typing, heard the commotion, opened the door, peeked out, and grinned: "Back already?"

Seeing Xu Youyu, Ying Chanxi pulled out some small trinkets bought in Jingzhao City from her suitcase and handed them over.

Xu Youyu accepted them with a smile, played with them a moment, thanked her, then closed the door and went back to typing.

Li Luo returned to his room to type as well.

Yan Zhusheng, after asking her older sister for a favor, slipped into the piano room, while Ying Chanxi began sorting the three of their luggage.

She didn't find it troublesome—after all, once home, she had nothing else to do.

After finishing unpacking, Ying Chanxi walked into the kitchen, sliced fruit for all three, and brought it in.

Seeing Ying Chanxi enter with a tray while he typed, Xu Youyu couldn't help but tease: "Xixi, why don't you put on that little maid outfit again? It suits you perfectly right now."

"Hmph," Ying Chanxi pouted, placing the tray on the table. "Why don't you wear it then?"

"I don't have your level of service spirit," Xu Youyu said, popping a grape into her mouth, then suddenly brightening, pulling Ying Chanxi aside to whisper, "But you just reminded me—Li Luo's birthday is next month. What if we..."

Li Luo, still typing, had no idea what Xu Youyu and Ying Chanxi were plotting; past ten p. m., having finished most of his typing, he was dragged off by Ying Chanxi to take a shower.

Then Yan Zhusheng pulled him off to wash again.

When all three were fragrant and in bed, Li Luo lay with one arm around each, staring at the ceiling, when his phone vibrated a few times.

He pulled it out and saw a message from Xu Youyu.

【Xu Youyu】: Finished writing?

【Li Luo】: Shouldn't I be asking you that?

【Xu Youyu】: If you're done, come over here.

【Li Luo】: What for?

【Xu Youyu】: Something more important than what you're doing right now—left arm around, right arm around.

【Li Luo】: …How do you know I'm left arm around, right arm around?

【Xu Youyu】: Zhusheng told me.

Li Luo: "…?"

Seeing the message, Li Luo immediately turned his head toward Yan Zhusheng, who was leaning against him on his left.

Yan Zhusheng sensed his gaze, lifted her head to meet his eyes, blinked her innocent big eyes, and tilted her head in confusion.

Li Luo leaned over to check Yan Zhusheng's phone screen—sure enough, she was chatting with Xu Youyu.

He turned again to look at Ying Chanxi, who was scrolling through videos; he sighed inwardly.

【Li Luo】: Coming.

After sending the message to Xu Youyu, Li Luo got out of bed.

Ying Chanxi had thought he was going to the bathroom, but when she saw him heading toward the hallway door, she asked curiously: "Li Luo, where are you going?"

"Youyu called me." Li Luo didn't lie; after saying it, he walked toward Xu Youyu's room.

Hearing this, Ying Chanxi let it go.

She'd become completely desensitized to this sort of thing.

Especially since Li Luo never hid anything—he said he was going to see Xu Youyu, and he meant it, no secrets from her.

So Ying Chanxi didn't feel any resentment anymore.

Soon, Li Luo arrived at Xu Youyu's bedroom door.

Before he could even reach for the handle, Xu Youyu, hearing his footsteps, opened the door ahead of time.

Then she placed both hands on Li Luo's shoulders and shoved him all the way into the hallway bathroom.

"I've already washed twice today…" Li Luo, pinned against the shower wall by Xu Youyu, said helplessly.

"But you still look energetic, don't you?" Xu Youyu chuckled, pulling out a small plastic square from somewhere, biting it between her lips as she leaned close to him, "It's been a week—I've missed you so much."

"Need a beating?"

"Yes, yes!" Xu Youyu pressed herself fully against him, hugging him tightly, "I've been waiting for you to bully me."

With that, Li Luo took a deep breath, turned on the showerhead, soaked them both, then pinned Xu Youyu to the wall.

…

More than half an hour later, Xu Youyu, flushed and breathless, was carried back to her bedroom by Li Luo.

They lay on the bed; Li Luo held her for a brief rest, watching Xu Youyu limp and pliant in his arms, he couldn't help laughing: "Only held out for two chapters? Just as weak as ever."

"Standing on tiptoes is exhausting!" Xu Youyu, languid and drained, leaned against Li Luo's chest, tracing circles on his chest with her left hand, voice faint, "Don't you have any pity?"

"You should exercise more," Li Luo reminded her. "During our week in Jingzhao City, you didn't go jogging once, right? Your morning run count still hasn't changed?"

"Shut up," Xu Youyu huffed, cutting him off. "Don't you dare bring this up again, or I'll turn on you."

"If you don't start running now, by finals you'll have to jog ten days straight," Li Luo said helplessly. "Better to run twice a week now—five weeks, done."

"Ugh, so annoying—I called you over so you wouldn't talk about this!" Xu Youyu waved her hands to shush him, then climbed onto Li Luo's lap, sat upright, and fumbled toward the nightstand.

"What are you doing?"

"Looking for something. Wait a sec."

"What is it?"

"You'll see," Xu Youyu said, pulling two sheets of paper from the drawer and handing them to Li Luo.

Li Luo took the papers, sat up slightly, glanced down—and burst out laughing.

In his hands were Xu Youyu's IOUs.

Borrower and lender names were already filled in, with ID numbers beside them.

Below, the reason for the loan, amount, term, interest rate, and repayment method were all clearly written out.

"So formal?" Li Luo looked at Xu Youyu, raising an eyebrow. "My money is your money—why be so polite? Pay me back when you have extra cash."

"No way," Xu Youyu said seriously. "I have to write the IOU. Business is business—even brothers settle accounts clearly."

"This house is for my parents—I have to pay for it myself. The eighty thousand is a loan from you. The IOU must be written."

"Check if there's anything wrong. If not, sign and stamp your fingerprint."

As she spoke, Xu Youyu even pulled out a red ink pad specifically for fingerprints—thoroughly prepared.

Seeing this, Li Luo knew she was serious.

But…

He pursed his lips, recalling how, in his past life, Xu Youyu had invested eighty thousand in him—there was a contract, but it was scribbled carelessly.

And she never once pressed him to repay.

Thinking of it, Li Luo smiled, tossed the papers aside, and said: "I'll write an IOU—but not this one. I'm rewriting it."

"Huh?" Xu Youyu blinked. "Is five percent interest too low?"

"A bit too low," Li Luo grinned, rolled off the bed, found a blank sheet on Xu Youyu's desk, picked up a pen, and began writing.

Xu Youyu leaned over curiously, watching as she muttered: "You're not planning to charge me usury, are you? You'll end up selling me to pay it off."

"That might be even more extreme than this," Li Luo said, as the IOU was nearly finished.

The earlier content was still reasonable, but as Xu Youyu watched him scribble a pile of terms regarding interest and repayment, he couldn't help but widen his eyes.

"... You call this interest?"

(End of Chapter)